Clegg no-show exposes UK coalition rift

Tensions over Europe at the heart of the British coalition government were exposed today, as Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg failed to attend the House of Commons to hear David Cameron defend his decision to veto last week’s proposed EU treaty.

The Liberal Democrat leader said that he did not want to provide a “distraction” by appearing in his usual place at the Prime Minister’s side as Mr Cameron told MPs that he had taken “the right course for this country” at the Brussels summit.