Coalition clashes over voting reform

I understand that the Lib Dem Culture Secretary twice referred to the traducing of Nick Clegg in his pop at the PM and the Chancellor in Cabinet. He was, Clegg allies say, echoing the anger of Lib Dem activists who couldn’t believe their eyes when they saw Tory-backed No campaign leaflets attacking Clegg for breaking promises when he was breaking promises to keep Cameron in No. 10.  I understand that Chris Huhne called on the Prime Minister to “disassociate” himself from the cross-party no campaign.

David Cameron’s reply sounded a lot like his words on Radio 4’s Today programme this morning, emphasising that he took responsibility for the Tory No Campign but that one and the cross-party campaign (with all the money and the anti-Clegg propaganda) were “separate things.” “I’m not sure they are,” Chris Huhne hit back, before turning to the Chancellor and asking him to “disassociate” himself from the No Campaign attacks on Nick Clegg. George Osborne said the referendum “was always going to be a difficult” period and then closed down the conversation saying: “This is Cabinet not some sub-Jeremy Paxman interview and I think we should get on with it.” The Prime Minister took his cue and moved to the next item on the agenda after Parliamentary Business (which Chris Huhne had rather hijacked) and started briefing the Cabinet about Osama Bin Laden. (all credit to James Forsyth at The Spectator for being first with all of this)

Ed Miliband’s appearance at a cross-party Yes to AV rally tonight is a last minute change of plan by the Labour leader. He’ll appear side by side with Paddy Ashdown. Mr Miliband has upped his AV appearances from the planned minimum one at the Labour Yes and one at the cross-party Yes launches. Aides say this is because he believes in the policy. Sceptics say he doesn’t want to be accused of hiding and doesn’t want to cop the blame for the campaign going down. One Lib Dem minister I spoke to said it was too little too late and the Labour leader would have to bear his share of the blame if AV foundered because he’d failed to use his office to galvanise Labour support.