<p> Cameron, who took power this week after 13 years of Labour rule, said he would be able to maintain his power-sharing deal with the smaller Liberal Democrats despite the pressing need for public spending cuts and tax rises. <br /><br />Political rivals, analysts and even some within Cameron’s own centre-right party have raised concerns the two sides’ political views are too far apart for the coalition to succeed. <br />But Cameron said his alliance with Lib Dems would grow in strength during its scheduled five-year term. “Of course there will be doubters but I believe we can make this work,” he said. “There is a common agenda we want to pursue.” <br /><br />Unlike many other European countries, Britain is not used to coalition governments — this is its first since 1945 — and the divisions between the main parties are deep and historic. <br />Former Conservative deputy prime minister Michael Heseltine predicted the inevitable spending cuts would cause “terrible strains” in the coalition. <br /><br />“We are living in a false dawn,” he was reported as saying in the Independent newspaper. “The sun is shining. It is not going to last very long... there is a rocky road ahead.” <br /></p>
<p> Cameron, who took power this week after 13 years of Labour rule, said he would be able to maintain his power-sharing deal with the smaller Liberal Democrats despite the pressing need for public spending cuts and tax rises. <br /><br />Political rivals, analysts and even some within Cameron’s own centre-right party have raised concerns the two sides’ political views are too far apart for the coalition to succeed. <br />But Cameron said his alliance with Lib Dems would grow in strength during its scheduled five-year term. “Of course there will be doubters but I believe we can make this work,” he said. “There is a common agenda we want to pursue.” <br /><br />Unlike many other European countries, Britain is not used to coalition governments — this is its first since 1945 — and the divisions between the main parties are deep and historic. <br />Former Conservative deputy prime minister Michael Heseltine predicted the inevitable spending cuts would cause “terrible strains” in the coalition. <br /><br />“We are living in a false dawn,” he was reported as saying in the Independent newspaper. “The sun is shining. It is not going to last very long... there is a rocky road ahead.” <br /></p>