David Cameron and Nick Clegg

A year can be a wonderfully long time in politics. Just twelve months back today David Cameron and Nick Clegg walked confidently onto their lecterns in the Downing Street rose garden and announced the first formal coalition state since World War 2 had been formed. Due to the illusion of oneness, that eyelids would hardly have been batted if the fresh-faced pair had reached out and shared an excited high 5. Today nonetheless, the fresh faces are gone. After sour Cupboard rows over the AV ballot, ire over the realization of varsity schooling costs and discordance over NHS reform, the relationship is nearer to crumbling than previously. Yesterday the Lib Dem leader in particular looked beat, annoyed and tired in the aftermath of the hammering his party took in the local elections. And body language gurus claim that Cameron too is feeling the pressure.

12 months back, the PM and his assistant giggled and joked as they promised that their political wedding would last until May 2015.

But today public confidence in the govt has hit a low, with nearly half citizens – 49 % – exclaiming the Coalition has been bad for Britain. Fifty-three % think its record so far has been upsetting, according to a ComRes survey for ITV Reports .

And fewer than a 3rd of those polled now think the coalition State will last for its full five-year term, though the struggling leaders insist their relationship remains robust