Britain backs Afghan war in programme for government

BRITAIN’S coalition government outlined a joint legislative programme, promising support for the Afghanistan war, a new drive toward Middle East peace and a “close and frank” relationship with the United States.

Prime Minister David Cameron and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg published details of the agreement struck between their Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties after the country’s inconclusive May 6 election, in which no party won a clear majority to govern.

“Some policies have been lost on both sides, some have been changed and yes – we have had to find ways to deal with the issues where we profoundly disagree,” Cameron told reporters in London as he unveiled the plan.

The deal promises to support enlargement of the UN Security Council, to review an extradition treaty between Britain and the US seen by some as unfair, and to rule out joining – or even preparing for entry into – the European single currency.

Clegg’s party has long favoured closer European ties and eventual British entry into the euro, a policy which is an anathema to Cameron’s deeply eurosceptic Conservatives.

Cameron was holding talks in Paris with French President Nicolas Sarkozy last night and is travelling to meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin today to discuss European ties and the continent’s fragile economy.

He said Britain would not support closer economic governance in Europe as a response to the debt crisis in Greece, which needed a €110 billion three-year rescue loan package from other EU countries and the International Monetary Fund to stave off bankruptcy.

“We don’t believe there should be further transfer of powers in that way,” Cameron said.

The joint agreement says any new attempt by the European Union to expand its powers would need to be approved in Britain by a public referendum.

Clegg and Cameron’s joint government promises to support “concerted international efforts” to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon – but does not specify whether the Liberal Democrats will give up their policy to oppose any military action against Tehran.

While the programme endorses the previous government’s decision to authorise the £20 billion (€23bn) replacement of Britain’s fleet of nuclear-armed submarines, Clegg’s lawmakers – who oppose the plan – are free to “continue to make the case for alternatives”.

Their joint programme promises to “maintain a strong, close and frank relationship with the United States,” but to bolster links with India and China, and focus on extending trading and diplomatic ties to fast-growing economies beyond Europe or North America.

It backs permanent UN Security Council seats for Japan, India, Brazil, Germany and an African representative.

But Cameron and Clegg said reducing Britain’s £163bn (€189bn) budget deficit will be prioritised over all other plans.

Treasury chief George Osborne will outline details next week regarding the £6 billion of spending cuts planned for this year.