DAVID CAMERON puts on a brave, even a cheerful, face over the state of the coalition, but is he in fact secretly deeply anxious about its future?

Some of the leading Liberal Democrats in the Cabinet have been causing him acute embarrassment – yet all he seems to do, outwardly anyway, is simply shrug his shoulders.

The Lib-Dems’ disastrous showing in the recent local elections seems to have led those members in the cabinet to strut around as though they are in charge when they are, in fact, very much the junior partners.

But there are signs now – and not before time – that the Prime Minister’s patience (which some consider to be misplaced) is at last starting to crack.

The Business Secretary Vince Cable, who has up to now, with seeming impunity, publicly questioned some of the coalition’s policies, has been hauled over the coals for suggesting that Greece would have to delay paying some of its debts.

He was told in no uncertain terms by Downing Street that he was not authorised to set out government policy on the economic crisis.

Now deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has reportedly had a stand-up row with the Prime Minister over the appointment of Lord Ashcroft, the controversial Tory donor, as a defence adviser.

And the allegations about the Energy Secretary Chris Huhne are causing acute embarrassment to the Government.

Who wouldn’t like to be a fly on the wall at Cabinet meetings which people are beginning to suspect are becoming fraught and bitchy?

HAS there ever been such a political love-in? Barack Obama’s visit to this country was a resounding success.

The “special relationship” between the United States and Britain – which has been the subject of some doubt of late – was, in fact, upgraded. It is no longer merely “special”, but “essential”.

And there was plainly rapport between the President and David Cameron. There will, of course, be cynicism from the nay-sayers who like to find problems where none exist.

But let even them for once accept the genuineness of the obvious bonhomie which was on display from start to finish of this triumphant visit.

George W Bush gave the impression – rightly or wrongly – of slightly looking down on Britain and regarding Tony Blair as some kind of errand boy. There is nothing of that in the relationship between the current occupants of Downing Street and the White House.

Meanwhile, Mr Cameron would be well justified in uncorking the bubbly to celebrate the success of this historic event.