Coalition relaunch branded sham

Mr Cameron yesterday made plain his intention to stay in Downing Street for another full term but Fabian Hamilton, Leeds North East Labour MP, said a Conservative win in 2015 would result in a widening gap between rich and poor and more 
being done to the public sector.

He said: “We are still a rich country even though we have been through two recessions but even relatively well-off people are struggling because of the drop in living standards.

“At the same time, bankers and chief executives are still paying themselves huge bonuses.

“They say they are going to relaunch the coalition but they have to do something about the economy. If you want to get out of a recession, you have to create 
jobs.

“If you want a key sector like building to grow again you need to spend on infrastructure.”

Mr Hamilton said he was “amazed and astounded” that Liberal Democrats were “going along” with the coalition’s policies and predicted they faced being “wiped out” at the next election.

Commenting on today’s new coalition pledge from Mr Cameron and deputy prime minister Nick Clegg, the MP for Sheffield Hallam, he added: “It a sham. It’s a way of trying to reassure the public the coalition still works, which it doesn’t, and that it is still working in the interests of most people, which it doesn’t.”

But today’s statement from Mr Cameron and Mr Clegg makes clear the coalition remains firmly glued together and sets out some of the priorities ahead.

It says: “Today, at the half-way point in this parliament, we are taking stock of the progress we have made in implementing the coalition agreement that we signed in May 2010.

“We are also initiating a new set of reforms, building on those already under way, to secure our country’s future and help people realise their ambitions.

“We will support working families with their childcare costs. We will build more houses and make the dream of home ownership a reality for more people.

“We will set out plans for long-term investment in Britain’s transport infrastructure. We will set out two big reforms to provide dignity in old age: an improved state pension that rewards saving, and more help with the costs of long-term care.

“Our mission is clear: to get Britain living within its means and earning its way in the world once again.”

The two leaders list welfare reforms, tougher school standards, council tax freezes, protecting the NHS from spending cuts 
and help with energy bills, fuel duty cuts and increases in the personal income tax allowance among the Government’s achievements.

Mr Cameron yesterday insisted the coalition had a “full tank of gas” and said he wanted to remain as Prime Minister until 2020. But business leaders and policy experts gave the coalition mixed reviews.

CBI director general John Cridland said: “Frankly, the Government’s delivery has been disappointing if not sluggish.”

He told BBC Radio 4’s World this Weekend: “They are not getting on with house building, road building, rail building at the pace we would like.”

Bookmakers William Hill gave Mr Cameron a 7/1 chance of remaining Prime Minister until 2020 with the same odds being offered on the UK no longer being a full member of the European Union on January 1, 2020.