The Cameron-Clegg Civil Ceremony

Will it be happily ever after?

There was much pomp, ceremony, diamonds and ermine at the State Opening of Parliament when the Queen welcomed the 'happy couple', David Cameron and Nick Clegg. The power sharing Lib-Con partnership voted in on 6th May has made history and we were glued to the 24 hour live coverage in the weeks following the shock election result.

After five days deciding who would get into bed with whom, Clegg and Cameron emerged as the blushing brides and the business of running the country began. Arriving at their new Treasury offices MPs found a warm welcome message from Liam Byrne, former keeper of the country's purse strings: "I'm afraid there's no money. Good luck!".

The odd coupling has certainly, and not surprisingly, prompted much talk of a marriage of convenience among dissenters. I liked Harriet Harman's speech alluding to a wedding where all the guests are taking bets on how long it will last, muttering "they're just not right for each other".

There's also speculation over 'who is posher' - class a very popular English debate, discussed almost as regularly as the weather - with both Clegg and Cameron having attended privileged private schools. They even share a similar appearance - particularly around the hair - and some commentators have gone as far as saying they look 'like twins'.

These early days of the new coalition are ripe for speculation - which of the old guard will get fed up first. it could go one of two ways… success or failure. Right now we're in the honeymoon stage where it's all smiles and sunshine (clever of them to arrange that) in the Downing Street rose garden. The slagging matches which typified the old style of politics have been replaced with touchy-feely sentiments, compromise and understanding. A whole new language, in fact.

I especially enjoy attempting to read the body language of the two party leaders - an art I suspect both have rehearsed in front of the mirror. They know the power of a good photo op and back slapping - or rather seeing who can slap the other on the back more frequently and heartily - as well as the double grasping hand shake are evidently great ways of showing confidence, power, assertiveness, with just a hint of dominance.

Like any relationship the coupling will only work if both sides agree to compromise - and in this case there could well be so many concessions that anyone who voted either Conservative or Liberal Democrat won't get what they wanted.

Proportional representation, a key Lib Deb campaign, wasn't part of the deal though a referendum on the alternative vote was agreed to. And for their part, the Conservatives have agreed to a capital gains tax that will sting their core middle class voters right where it hurts - in the pocket.

There is a feeling of watching history in the making as the Clegg-Cameron coalition beds in. But if you really want to know the inside story of what happened in the five days between Gordon losing the election and David becoming Prime Minister, you'll just have to wait for the book by former Labour minister Andrew Adonis.

East London Line opens

More than 10 years in the making and at a cost of £1 billion, the East London Line has opened ahead of schedule bringing public transport relief to previously difficult to get to East End destinations like Dalston and linking them to New Cross in the south. Museums made more accessible by the new London Overground line have already taken advantage, creating the CultureLine which includes the Whitechapel Gallery, Hackney Museum, the Horniman Museum and Brunel Museum. Never mind the interesting things you'll see both at these attractions, the views along the way are spectacular - especially the overland stretch from Dalston Junction to Whitechapel.

Al Fayed sells Harrods

Egyptian born multimillionaire Mohamed al Fayed is full of surprises and certainly caused a stir this week when he sold Harrods, the world famous Knightsbridge department store to Qatar Holding - just weeks after he had reassured staff that the store was not for sale. Mr al Fayed has hit the headlines on a number of occasions and is well known for his colourful language and his conviction that Princess Diana and his son Dodi, who died in a car crash in Paris in 1997, were murdered. Having bought Harrods in 1985 for £615 million he has now sold the iconic store for £1.5billion 25 years later.

Olympic mascots unveiled

We were introduced to Wenlock and Mandeville this week. No, not a new type of dandelion tea but the Olympic and Paralympic mascots for 2012. As with previous unveilings - remember the 2012 logo, described as a 'puerile mess' and 'commercial scandal' when it was unveiled in 2007 - the reaction hasn't been immediately welcoming. A poll of marketers revealed 51 per cent didn't have a good word to say about the mascots. Even Sir Terence Conran joined the debate saying the "appalling" design would be "another disaster like the Millennium Dome exhibition". Oh dear.

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