LONDON, May 12 (UPI) -- A handshake between Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron and his deputy, Liberal Democrat Nick Clegg, ushered Britain into a new political era Wednesday.
Days of political horse-trading ended Tuesday with Labor Party leader Gordon Brown resigning as prime minister and Cameron's appointment to lead as the country's first coalition government since World War II, The Times of London reported.
Cameron's Conservative Party won the most seats in the parliamentary elections Thursday, but not enough for an outright majority, resulting in a hung Parliament. Since then negotiations have been furious among party leaders.
Clegg, as deputy prime minister, is one of five Liberal Democrats appointed to Cabinet positions, including Vince Cable being named business secretary.
The chancellor and foreign secretary posts went to Tories George Osborne and William Hague. Ken Clarke will be the justice secretary and lord chancellor while Liam Fox was confirmed as defense secretary.
Hague acknowledged some people in both parties would have difficulty accepting the shared-governance arrangement, The Times said.
"This is a genuine compromise between the parties," he said. "There are many things the Liberal Democrats have had to swallow that are very difficult for them, just as there are some things -- like holding a referendum on a new voting system -- that are very difficult for the Conservative Party to accept."
