The coalition Government "is as good today as it was a year ago", Prime Minister David Cameron insisted as the Liberal Democrats suffered heavy defeats in the local elections.
With a victory for the No campaign in the alternative vote (AV) referendum looming later, Mr Cameron sought to play down divisions in the coalition as some Liberal Democrat activists openly questioned Nick Clegg's leadership.
In an attempt to ease tensions between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, the Prime Minister warned against any self-congratulatory back-slapping should the No to AV campaign seal victory as expected.
He said that while the Tories and their coalition partners had "different histories and traditions and sometimes quite different views", the parties were working together to sort out the long-term problems the country faced.
"That is what we are committed to do and I am absolutely committed to make this coalition Government, which I believe is good for Britain, work for the full five years of this term," Mr Cameron said.
"It is then that I believe the coalition and its parties will be judged by the electorate.
"But I would pay tribute to the work that Liberal Democrats have done, and are doing, in this coalition and will go on doing because we are absolutely committed to make sure it works hard for the people of Britain."
Asked how much trust had been lost between the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives in the run-up to the AV referendum, Mr Cameron said: "We always knew the referendum would mean the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats disagreeing and being on opposite sides of the campaign, with one campaigning for Yes and the other campaigning for No.
"I hope there will be a clear result, and whether it is a yes or a no, there will be no celebrating, there will be no congratulations.
"The issue will be settled, we will then get on with the vital work we are doing as a coalition Government, governing in the national interest."
