Cameron takes over admitting ‘this will be difficult’

TORY leader David Cameron entered Downing Street as British Prime Minister for the first time last night and said: “This is going to be hard and difficult work.”

Cameron told the waiting media: “On behalf of the whole country I would like to pay tribute to the outgoing prime minister for his long record of dedicated public service.”

And he added: “I aim to form a proper and full coalition between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats.”

Tory sources last night said that Liberal Democrats leader, Nick Clegg, will be deputy prime minister and that there are four other Lib Dem cabinet ministers.

Cameron and his pregnant wife Samantha arrived at Number 10 straight from Buckingham Palace where he had accepted the Queen’s request for him to form a new government.

And as his Jaguar entered the security gates to Downing Street, he was greeted by a mixture of cheers and jeers from crowds gathered on Millbank.

The exact shape of the new government was not yet clear and the Liberal Democrats had yet to give their final approval to the deal on offer.

“This is going to be hard and difficult work. A coalition will throw up all sorts of challenges,” Cameron said. “But I believe together we can provide that strong and stable government that our country needs.”

Sterling rose against the dollar and the euro as Cameron spoke. Markets had been impatient to see an end to the uncertainty thrown up by last Thursday’s inconclusive election.

George Osborne, a close friend and ally of Cameron, is set to become Chancellor of the Exchequer.

US President Barack Obama called Cameron to congratulate him, the White House said.

Both the Conservatives and Labour had tried to win Lib Dem support to form the next government during five days of negotiations, but it became clear yesterday afternoon that Labour had lost and Brown would have to resign.

“I wish the next prime minister well as he makes the important choices for the future,” an emotional Brown, said earlier in front of 10 Downing Street, flanked by his wife Sarah.

First among Cameron’s challenges will be reducing Britain’s record budget deficit, that has raised fears that the country could lose its triple-A credit rating.

Financial markets favour a Conservative-led government because they believe it would move faster and harder to cut the deficit.

Details of what the Conservatives and Lib Dems had agreed have not yet been made public. Both negotiating teams were to report back to their legislators and party colleagues last night. The two parties will have to endorse any deal agreed.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson texted his congratulations to Cameron and wished him well. “David Cameron has changed his party and now offers real change for the country… I know that he has the steel, the energy and compassion to rise to the tough challenges ahead.”

Lib Dem frontbencher Simon Hughes said he expected the coalition deal to be approved by his party.

There had been a “surprising coming together” during the negotiations, Hughes said.