Britain gets a new prime minister

David Cameron is the youngest person to hold the job in 200 years. Commentators are comparing him with Tony Blair — and wondering if his party will turn against him

Britain has a new Prime Minister — Conservative party leader David Cameron. Last week's inconclusive election left the UK's political system in flux until Tuesday, when a Conservative-led coalition government took shape, prompting incumbent Gordon Brown to resign and hand Cameron the keys to 10 Downing Street. At 43, Cameron is the youngest Prime Minister to rule Britain since 1812. He's a bit like a Conservative version of Tony Blair, writes Raphael G. Satter in The Washington Post. Against all odds, he's dragged his "right-of-center party toward the center of British politics, promoting inclusive politics, environmental concerns, and a certain modern sensibility." But right-wing voices in his own party are already grumbling, says Doug Mataconis at Outside the Beltway. "If Cameron ends up being taken down in the end by the hard-liners in his own party, it’s likely to look a lot like what’s going on in the Republican Party today." Watch David Cameron's first speech as British PM:

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us