Clegg: We could be left a global pygmy

BRITAIN’S deputy prime minister Nick Clegg opened up tensions in his country’s coalition government yesterday, warning that the country risks becoming an international “pygmy” after vetoing a new EU treaty.

The leader of the pro-Europe Liberal Democrats spoke out despite a poll showing public support for Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron’s decision to stay out of deal aimed at solving the eurozone debt crisis.

Mr Clegg had at first publicly backed the prime minister after Friday’s EU summit in Brussels, but he broke ranks yesterday and said he had told Mr Cameron the outcome was “bad for Britain”.