Coalition partners trade blows over voting reform

Cracks appeared in the coalition government on Sunday over a looming referendum on voting reform as Conservative and Liberal Democrat politicians clashed publicly on the merits of adopting a new system.

In little over two weeks, voters will be asked to decide whether they want a new electoral model, known as the alternative vote (AV), to replace the current first-past-the-post system.

Prime Minister David Cameron's Conservative Party has always opposed change but promised to put it to the popular vote last year as part of concessions to entice the Lib Dems to join them in coalition.

Support for a change to the way MPs are elected is collapsing, according to the latest Guardian/ICM poll, sending shockwaves through the yes campaign advocating reform of the voting system.

The figures give the no camp a 16-point lead, wiping out a two-point lead for the yes camp in the equivalent Guardian/ICM poll in February.

Among people who say they are likely to vote in the nationwide referendum on the alternative vote on 5 May and have made up their minds, the poll shows 58% saying no and 42% saying yes.

Among all respondents, 44% back no and 33% yes, with 23% saying they don't know.

David Cameron admitted yesterday that millions of voters have not realised the AV referendum is even taking place as senior Tories threatened to challenge a ‘yes’ vote on a derisory turnout.

The Prime Minister revealed that when he had asked customers at his local pub how they intended to vote, they had no idea what he was talking about.

He signalled that the result of the electoral reform vote – only the second national referendum in British history – will have to be implemented regardless of how many voters take part.

Cabinet ministers were at each other’s throats last night as the  civil war over electoral reform threatened to tear apart the Coalition.

Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg accused the Prime Minister of running a ‘Right-wing clique’ guilty of peddling ‘lies, misinformation and deceit’ during the referendum campaign.

Then Energy Secretary Chris Huhne said he would seek ‘legal redress’ against David Cameron, Chancellor George Osborne and Foreign Secretary William Hague unless they retracted claims that the alternative vote system would cost more than the existing first-past-the-post system.

Tories hit back, with one ministerial aide branding the reaction proof that the Lib Dems are ‘a bunch of sanctimonious b******s.’ On the bitterest day yet for the Coalition and the referendum campaign, Mr Clegg opened hostilities by saying in an interview that Mr Cameron was guilty of ‘defending the indefensible’.