Nick Clegg and David Cameron are resolute that the coalition is to continue despite the Liberal Democrat election drumming and the AV referendum.
The Liberal Democrat leader conceded that the overwhelming rejection of voting reform was a ‘bitter blow’ but “if, in a democracy, you ask someone a question and get an overwhelming answer, you just have to move on.” His disappointment was exacerbated by the fact that the Lib Dems lost approximately 700 councillors in England and retained only 5 seats in Scotland.
The results brought the inevitable grassroots calls for Mr Clegg to step down and for the coalition to disband early but Mr. Cameron insisted he wants it to run for a full five-year term. Furthermore senior Lib Dem members have rubbished the calls and Mr. Clegg’s deputy Simon Hughes claimed he was “personally and politically strong as when he joined governmentâ€.
Mr. Cameron admitted the heated exchanges surrounding the AV debate had been ‘difficult’ for the Government but he reiterated that: “The coalition agreement set out that we were going to ask the British people a very straightforward question and they have given the most clear and resounding answer.
“I believe that what the British people want us to do now is to provide a good, strong, decisive Government in the long-term national interest of this country, Conservatives and Liberal Democrats working together.
“That is what we have been for this last year and that is what we are going to be for the rest of this Parliament.”
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