David Cameron and Nick Clegg try to unite fractious MPs

David Cameron and Nick Clegg were battling to contain in-fighting between the Tories and Liberal Democrats today as the Cabinet met to agree the final shape of tomorrow’s Queen’s Speech.

After recriminations over last week’s election defeats, they were using a visit to a tractor factory in Essex to attempt to reunite the Coalition around a package of economic growth measures and law and order reforms.

Back in Westminster, however, Conservative and Lib-Dem backbenchers were squaring up for bruising battles over Lords reform and environmental measures.

Meanwhile, Labour leader Ed Miliband warned of a “crisis of politics”, saying politicians had lost people’s trust. Speaking in Harlow, where his party seized control in last week’s council elections, he vowed to “reach out” to the two thirds of voters who did not cast their ballot last week.

Mr Clegg is digging in his heels on plans to legislate this session on Lords, said allies — despite Tory anger.

Mark Pritchard, outgoing secretary of the Tory backbench 1922 Committee, said: “House of Lords reform is not a priority for the public, however if the Government brings forward a Bill for reform they should also bring forward a Bill for a British Bill of Rights.”

Senior backbencher Julian Brazier said: “We have caused disproportionate turbulence with a couple of policies like Lords reform and gay marriage that we are not committed to under the coalition agreement.”

And 1922 Committee treasurer Brian Binley questioned the Prime Minister’s appointments, such as that of Baroness Warsi as party chairman, saying: “His management skills and collective political judgment are not as good as they need to be.”

In a blog for the Telegraph, former Cabinet minister Lord Tebbit warned that Ukip could challenge the Tories for second place in the European Parliament elections in 2014 unless policies such as wind turbines and overseas aid were dropped to attract Labour’s stay-at-home supporters.

Senior Lib-Dems hit back today, with Mr Clegg’s aide Jo Swinson said saying Tory critics were “very annoyed at the fact that they don’t have the Right- wing government that they would like”

The calls for Mr Cameron to change direction also prompted a backlash from Conservatives who want the Coalition to focus on fixing the economy.

Claire Perry, aide to Defence Secretary Philip Hammond, urged colleagues to “stop whingeing and start working”. Former minister Nicholas Soames also condemned “unnecessary” noises off, while City of London and Westminster MP Mark Field said: “The party and the Coalition has got to hold its nerve.”