The Crumbling Coalition in Britain?

[rpannier]

Despite Tory PM Cameron and the other guys assertions the unholy partnership of the Tory-lid dems could be unraveling.Many in the Tory Party, mostly back bench members have grown weary of the partnership. It's kind of hard to understand why as the soon-to-be-defunct lib dem party has pretty much caved on everything.
Never-the-less they may have found their chance: The Lords Reform Bill
When the coalition of Grim and Weasel was formed one of the requirements set out by Reneg, I mean Clegg, was that the Lord' Reform bill would be passed. It passed to have a second reading, but there was no chance it would clear the hurdle to limit debate. The Conservative Tories found their allies in Labour.
The Labour Party was not going to vote for it, so it has been tabled until maybe autumn, maybe 2013, maybe never.
While the Guardian News and the sensible British political establishment chastise the mean, tawdry evil Labour Party for not voting for something they have in the past, analysis suggests that once again sensible is sort of right on facts and off on analysis

1. The conservative wing of the Tories were able to pull in not-as-conservative Tories into the mix. They didn't like the bill and they the Lib Dems. (True)

2. Labour saw an opportunity to embarrass Cleeg and the Lib Dems and took it. (True)

What they don't talk about

1. Labour was not part of the grand bargain that created the coalition. It's not Labour's responsibility to vote for this bill.It was Howe's responsibility to whip the votes and he didn't get it done. Had the Tories lived up to the deal, Labour would not have been needed.

2. The deal the Lib Dems made with the Tories included decreasing the total number of seats in Patliament by around 50. The way the new maps would have been drawn it would have given the Tories about a +24 in seats. Why should Labour support weakening their own Party

3. The Bill would have limited membership to 1 15-year term. Hardly much of a reform if they get 15 years.

In the end, IMO, Labour made the right move. Clegg is threatening to not vote with the Tories on Parliament reform, though he's sounded this trumpet before. He made many bold assertions on NHS reform, University fees, etc and never once did he buck the Tories.
But, many of the Lib Dem members are angry. They've put their political futures at risk by supporting many of the Tory draconian regressive policies. If they bolt, then the coalition is through.
The only thing that may keep the coalition afloat -- Lib Dems are at 9%. If the gov't falls they might have zero seats in Parliament.