SORRY ABOUT THE FORMAT, COLLEGE COMPUTERS = CRAP!

Cabinet ministers in David Cameron's coalition government have agreed at their first meeting to take a five per cent pay cut.
There will also be a pay freeze for all new ministers for the duration of this parliament.

Read the full Downing Street statement on the ministerial pay cut.

Number 10 said the new Prime Minister and his deputy Nick Clegg also "emphasised their commitment to work together and highlighted the strong shared agenda" at the meeting.

George Osborne said he would work closely with the new Business Secretary Vince Cable to demonstrate Britain was "open for business and banking reform".

And William Hague and Liam Fox, the new Defence Secretary, said they would keep Parliament updated as to the situation in Afghanistan more frequently than their predecessors.

Sky's political editor Adam Boulton said: "The messages coming out loud and clear are that this is about getting down to business straight away.

"The message from Mr Cameron and Mr Clegg, is for the country to join in the hard work and recognise that the economy is in a state that will require some pretty difficult and unpalatable cuts and tax rises."


Boulton said the coalition Cabinet would have to make decisions in a different way to previous administrations.

"They have a route map and we must remember that this will have to be a government where keeping the Cabinet together and having discussion will be important.

"We know the style of Tony Blair - he was often criticised for deciding things with a small group of politicians and using the Cabinet to rubber-stamp them.

"That will not be possible in a coalition, where you must take two parties with you rather than one."

The new Prime Minister announced the members of his Cabinet last night but the union with the Lib Dems means some senior Conservatives did not get full positions.

Among them are Chris Grayling, Dominic Grieve and Theresa Villiers.

Another 15 Lib Dems are expected to be appointed to the lower ranks of the Government, creating even more pressure for places.



There are twenty three ministers who have the right to attend Cabinet



The work of the new government started last night when Mr Cameron convened the first meeting of the Government's new National Security Council.

During the meeting with intelligence chiefs they were briefed on the situation in Afghanistan and counter-terrorism work in the UK.

Foreign Secretary Mr Hague will meet US secretary of state Hillary Clinton in Washington on Friday in his first overseas visit in the job.

He said: "I think getting to grips with these Afghanistan and Iranian issues is right at the top of our agenda."

A visit to Europe will follow "very quickly", he added.

Meanwhile David Miliband, who will run for Labour leader, is setting out on a tour of the country to find out why enough people did not vote for his party at the election.

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