Cracks have appeared in Britain's coalition government over a referendum on voting reform. Conservative and Liberal Democrat politicians are arguing in public on the merits of adopting a new system.
Voters are to be asked on 5 May whether they want to replace the existing first-past-the-post system for electing MPs to Westminster with a method known as the alternative vote.
The Conservative Party has always opposed change, but promised to put it to a vote last year as part of concessions to the Liberal Democrats to join them in the coalition.
Leaders of both parties were putting the opposing cases in TV interviews on Sunday.
Labour is also split over the alternative vote - party leader Ed Miliband is campaigning to change the system but senior Labour figures want to keep first-past-the-post.
The BBC reports a survey suggests public opinion has hardened against a switch.
