Nick Clegg could begin break up of Coalition next year Writing in the Guardian, he said: "The coalition will be a play in two acts. Act one had the parties acting largely in tandem - reforming public services, reversing Labour's encroachments on civil liberties and, above all, gripping the public finances. In act two, the Liberal Democrats step away from the Conservatives. Still partners, but an arm's length apart. As polls showed Ukip now has more support than the Lib Dems, Mr Hughes told LBC Radio: "There's a little bit of chatter [about it], but there's bound to be given the situation we find ourselves in the opinion polls." However, he would like to consider making savings on universal benefits for pensioners, such as free bus passes and television licenses, rather than cutting more from the working poor. Mr Clegg is also hoping to announce more money for cheaper nursery places but he will warn mothers that they should use state-funded childcare to return to work, rather than "stay at home for 20 years."