A special Cabinet committee is being formed to referee disputes between Tory ministers and their Lib-Dem colleagues.
The unique star chamber was announced to Cabinet today as members were warned against letting
arguments get out of control.
With all sides aware of how much pressure the partnership could come under, David Cameron said they should keep differences quiet and let the new coalition committee thrash out the arguments.
It will be co-chaired by the Prime Minister and Deputy Premier Nick Clegg. Both party leaders stressed the importance of unity at this mornings's historic first Cabinet meeting.
Mr Cameron spoke first, saying: "I think we have a great opportunity to think for the long term." Then Mr Clegg stressed his own commitment to the coalition and hailed "a huge overlap, a shared agenda and a common purpose between the two parties".
The two leaders were finishing the reshuffle this afternoon by drawing up a list of junior and middle-ranking ministers. About 20 Lib-Dem MPs are expected to get jobs, over a third of the total of 57.
There are fears that will arouse resentment among some senior Tories who will miss out on ministerial appointment after waiting 13 years in opposition. The biggest danger is seen to be a rebellion by Tory Right-wingers, who fear they will end up being marginalised as Mr Cameron uses his Lib-Dem allies to shift the Conservative Party further into the centre ground.
One said, after the Cabinet list was announced last night: "As far as I can tell, there are only two real Conservatives in the entire Cabinet." He meant Liam Fox and Iain Duncan Smith — and not Mr Cameron.
