Mr Singh's government is already hobbled by corruption scandals involving his cabinet ministers ranging from allocation of resources (mobile phone spectrum licenses and coal) to plain old-fashioned bribery allegations (money for transfer of officials to "lucrative" postings).

BBC: Why is India's PM Manmohan Singh under attack?

The decision to axe the mobile library and allow 11 others to be run by volunteers was made by the county council cabinet last week.

BBC: Question mark over Surrey library changes

The prime minister has to reconnect with the rebels - a band which includes eminent ex-Cabinet ministers, establishment stalwarts like Sir Alan Hazelhurst, and bright-eyed, upwardly-mobile new intake MPs, as well as the usual suspects - while repairing relations with the Lib Dems.

BBC: Reconciliation and rebuilding?