Liberal Democrats deputy leader Simon Hughes reached out to anxious party members in a speech in Bradford today ahead of next month's local elections, insisting that the coalition is a "practical business relationship" rather than a "meeting of minds".

Mr Hughes said the Lib Dems and Conservatives would be locked in Government together for five years because "to do otherwise would be irresponsible".

And he admitted that it took his party "some time" after the General Election to "get our act together and make the most of the opportunities of being in Government".

Mr Hughes's comments came as Business Secretary Vince Cable laid bare simmering tensions over immigration policy, warning Prime Minister David Cameron that "talk of mass immigration" risked "inflaming" extremism.