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19 April 2011
Last updated at 04:31 ET
Former Lib Dem leader Lord Ashdown has told the BBC that attacks on Nick Clegg by supporters of the No to AV campaign are "disgusting politics".
The No campaign - backed by the Conservatives - has singled out the deputy PM, claiming the alternative vote would "save 'President Clegg'.
Lord Ashdown said the campaign was "attacking the man holding the coalition together".
Lib Dem minister Chris Huhne said the AV row was damaging the coalition.
On Monday, David Cameron teamed up with Labour heavyweight and former minister John - now Lord - Reid to attack the alternative vote system.
But the prime minister insisted he did "not condone" any personal attacks as part of the campaign - and said his personal No to AV literature did not contain any.
'Gutter politics' Nevertheless, Lord Ashdown told the BBC he was furious at the "Conservative Party money and the dinosaurs of Labour who are attacking the man holding the coalition together".
The peer's comments came after Lib Dem Energy Secretary Chris Huhne also launched an angry attack on the tactics of the No campaign - singling out the Conservatives specifically for criticism.
He told the BBC's Newsnight: "I am frankly shocked that coalition partners can stoop to a level of campaign that we have not seen in this country before."
Asked whether the row over AV was harming the coalition, he said: "I think it is damaging. There is no doubt about it.
"I can never remember a campaign that has stooped as low as the No campaign in dredging up stuff that they know is downright lies.
"I think this is the politics of the gutter.
Mr Huhne also complained that he had not received a reply to a letter he sent to Conservative party chairman Baroness Warsi earlier this month demanding an end to what he called "scare and smears" being employed by No campaigners.
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The No campaign - backed by the Conservatives - has singled out the deputy PM, claiming the alternative vote would "save 'President Clegg'.
Lord Ashdown said the campaign was "attacking the man holding the coalition together".
Lib Dem minister Chris Huhne said the AV row was damaging the coalition.
On Monday, David Cameron teamed up with Labour heavyweight and former minister John - now Lord - Reid to attack the alternative vote system.
But the prime minister insisted he did "not condone" any personal attacks as part of the campaign - and said his personal No to AV literature did not contain any.
'Gutter politics' Nevertheless, Lord Ashdown told the BBC he was furious at the "Conservative Party money and the dinosaurs of Labour who are attacking the man holding the coalition together".
The peer's comments came after Lib Dem Energy Secretary Chris Huhne also launched an angry attack on the tactics of the No campaign - singling out the Conservatives specifically for criticism.
He told the BBC's Newsnight: "I am frankly shocked that coalition partners can stoop to a level of campaign that we have not seen in this country before."
Asked whether the row over AV was harming the coalition, he said: "I think it is damaging. There is no doubt about it.
"I can never remember a campaign that has stooped as low as the No campaign in dredging up stuff that they know is downright lies.
"I think this is the politics of the gutter.
Mr Huhne also complained that he had not received a reply to a letter he sent to Conservative party chairman Baroness Warsi earlier this month demanding an end to what he called "scare and smears" being employed by No campaigners.
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