One year ago, British voters made history by forcing the rival politicians in the first coalition Government since the end of the second world war. And they have celebrated the first anniversary of the event Friday in delivering verdicts in a series of elections that could still tear this same coalition Government.
A day earlier, on a "super Thursday" surveys, there were elections for all local government outside London 279 and assemblies decentralized in the country of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. In addition, it was the first national referendum for 36 years, voters offer the possibility of replacing the system first-past-the-post, winner takes all national legislative elections with the Vote Alternative - or AV - system where they could rank the candidates in order of preference. (At the same time, voters in Scotland the majority nationalist party delivered Scotland short overall first in the history of the Edinburgh Parliament, 12 years, ensure that there will be a referendum in five years on the independence of Scotland.) (See the top 10 moments of the year election last U.K..)
The AV referendum was the only major concession Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron gave Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg a year ago of courting the partner in the coalition Government led by the conservative. The agreement was made knowing that Clegg and his party would campaign for a "Yes" vote in the referendum, while Cameron and his party would return "" campaign.
And as the results of polls cascade during the night of Thursday and Friday, the verdict was clear, unequivocal and, for the Liberal Democrats and their leader, devastating. Not only was the party virtually wiped out in local councils and assemblies, as voters punished them sacrificing electoral promises - including on the introduction of university tuition - under the coalition agreement, but he also loses the referendum by almost two to one that the voters decided that they did not want AVa system that could have led to coalition governments more in the future. (See that time video on Britain's hung Parliament).
Humiliation of Clegg has been enhanced by the fact that he believed Cameron promised do step a strongly partisan "no" campaign against AV but revenue after his own party warns it does not allow the "Yes" campaign to win by default. And it is this breach of trust in what has, until now, been a surprisingly close relationship which threatens to undermine the future of the coalition Government.
Senior Liberal Democrats are furious "Breach of Cameron faith" during the referendum campaign, former leader of Lib Dem Lord Paddy Ashdown brand in an article in journal before voting and are promising that Clegg will now be more robust and more demanding to the GovernmentBattle of Cameron significant concessions on key issues such as the extremely controversial reforms of the State National Health Service.
And if Clegg is to consolidate its massively weakened position Deputy Prime Minister, he needs to appease members of the base of his own party who, in great number, opposes the coalition with the conservatives in the first place and now have very good reasons to say: "Told you." (See why Britain has fallen love with Nick Clegg).
During this time, Cameron, who Friday, defied all predictions and won seats in the polls-thanks in large part to Clegg taking a large part of the incoming fire - will be pressed sections of his own party to his partner junior of ditches and call early general elections to earn a net majority in Parliament.
But echoing the general feeling in Britain, the conservative site influential home founder Tim Montgomerie, believe the coalition will continue, as Cameron has insisted he will be. "The coalition is will enter into a more mature and honest phase", he said. "The idea that they have accepted on all that was still untenable anyway, but any concession [coming] will not keep the Lib Dems in the coalition but keeping Clegg as leader." Cameron wants the Lib Dems him landing with another leader now. ?
Ivor Gaber, Professor of politics and journalism at the University of the city of London is agreement there will no be no early general election, but considers that the coalition Government can still be destroyed by dissident Liberal Democrats in Parliament. "Cameron now has a coalition of angry, humiliated and uncomfortable partner and must offer concessions to stop duplication of the Lib Dems," explains Gaber. "It is not inconceivable that a significant part of the Liberal Democrats in Parliament broke away and refuses to continue to support the coalition." (See pictures of David Cameron).
What is certain, is that the honeymoon period year-long enjoyed the Clegg and Cameron after their union sealed in the rose garden of 10 Downing Street in May is indeed more. He now is whether they can avoid divorce.
