London Evening Standard/London
Help for families struggling to get on the housing ladder was promised yesterday by David Cameron as the coalition renewed its vows with a mid-term manifesto of new policy ideas.
The prime minister put himself on the side of home owners at a joint press conference with Liberal Democrat Deputy Premier Nick Clegg. He promised “more help for families who can afford a mortgage but are unable to raise a large deposit, so they can buy their own homes”.
The scheme is expected to mean the government will underwrite some mortgages, making it less risky for banks to lend to those who cannot find the usual deposit.
However, in-fighting undermined the show of unity when former education minister Sarah Teather launched a stinging attack on Chancellor George Osborne and other Tory MPs — and vowed to vote against the 1% cap on many benefits payments today.
At the same time, Tory Right-winger Peter Bone called for the two leaders to “divorce” next year to prepare separate 2015 election campaigns.
And fellow Tory Mark Pritchard warned the LibDems not to block “essential” education and welfare reforms.
The prime minister and Clegg issued a mid-term report setting out six priority areas designed to show the government on the side of hard-working families, including up to £2,000 in help with sky-high childcare costs.
Cameron denied that the coalition was a marriage of convenience, saying: “It is a serious five-year commitment to give our country the strong, stable and determined leadership that we need for the long term.”
Details of the symbolic policies signalled yesterday will be given over the next few weeks, said government sources.
Shrugging off past disputes over House of Lords reforms, the referendum on the voting system, NHS reforms and civil liberties, Cameron said he and Clegg were “completely united on the big issues”. He went on: “Of course there have been difficulties along the way. With public finances as broken as ours that’s inevitable. But I think we’ve made a lot of progress.”
He insisted they were giving “strong, stable and determined leadership” to the country.
But on the eve of today’s big welfare vote, Teather accused the Conservatives of playing “petty games” with Parliament and the vulnerable.
The Brent Central Liberal Democrat MP told the Standard: “I hate the scroungers versus strivers rhetoric that drives this stuff, and the use of legislation to try and force artificial dividing lines. We were elected to serve the common good, not to use Parliament and the vulnerable we serve as a playground for petty games.”
Labour claimed cuts to child benefit, which came into effect at midnight, combined with a three-year benefits and tax credits squeeze, was a “huge assault” on millions of working families. However, leader Ed Miliband was hit by a revolt too, with former home secretary Jacqui Smith saying that Labour should back the cut.
“Tories want to paint us as a party which cares more about those unwilling to work than those struggling in work,” she said.
Lord Strathclyde resigns from cabinet
David Cameron suffered a blow to the “relaunch” of the coalition government as one of his most experienced Cabinet ministers announced his resignation. Lord Strathclyde stood down with immediate effect as leader of the House of Lords explaining that he wanted to resume his career in the private sector. Lord Strathclyde’s surprise announcement is also a setback to the prime minister who relied heavily on the advice of the 52-year-old hereditary peer. It follows the government’s decision to abandon plans to reform the House of Lords – proposals that had been regarded with scepticism by Lord Strathclyde. He was replaced as leader of the Lords by Lord Hill of Oareford, who also becomes Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and a member of the Privy Council.