Clegg hasn't sold out, insists Cameron after Yorkshire Cabinet (AUDIO)

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Mr Cameron, speaking in West Yorkshire, insisted that the Deputy Prime Minister and his party had a "huge influence" over coalition policy, including the Government's controversial first Budget.

He said that the Lib Dems and the Conservatives were joined together in Government in a true partnership.

"This is not a Conservative Government with a sort of Liberal Democrat appendage. This is a partnership Government," he said.

"I want people who voted Liberal Democrat to know, not that they are being taken for a ride in some way - they are absolutely not. I don't take steps without consulting with Nick, we work very, very closely together.

"It really is a partnership, it is not one plus a half, it is one plus one."

Mr Cameron was speaking after his first regional Cabinet meeting, held in Bradford. He then took part in an hour-long question and answer session with readers of the Yorkshire Post. (Video of the complete event here soon and full coverage in Wednesday's paper.)

His comments came amid growing unease within the Lib Dem ranks at the direction the coalition is taking.

Last night two Lib Dem MPs - Bob Russell and Mike Hancock - voted against the Budget rise in VAT in the first rebellion of the new the Parliament.

Mr Cameron said that Mr Clegg and the Lib Dem Treasury Chief Secretary Danny Alexander had played an important role in shaping the Budget.

"The Liberal Democrats had a huge influence on that Budget," he said.

"The fact that we raised the tax threshold by 1,000 - that is a Liberal Democrat policy; the extra money going into the child tax credits, that is something that we agreed together was the right thing to do."

He also rejected criticism of Mr Clegg in Sheffield - where he has his constituency - following the cancellation of an 80 million government loan to the Forgemasters company in the city.

"He really hasn't sold out. I can tell you because I work with the guy," he said.