Britain's coalition no bed of roses but still intact

LONDON - A year after their chummy first appearance in Downing Street's rose garden the honeymoon is over for Britain's coalition, but this thorny political marriage has surprised many by surviving for so long.

Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg of the Liberal Democrats have faced dissent in their parties and protests in the streets as they push through harsh austerity measures.

Tensions flared last week after the Liberal Democrats lost a national referendum on voting reform and then suffered their worst results in local council elections in more than 20 years.