The Tories launched a series of attacks on the Lib Dems on Tuesday by seizing credit for popular policies including new laws on an EU referendum, the power to sack MPs, a rise in the minimum wage and an increase in the 10p tax threshold.
In a sign of deteriorating coalition relations, David Cameron and George Osborne appeared to launch a concerted effort to downplay the involvement of the Lib Dems in policies that are going down well with the public and blame them for blocking others.
They first ambushed the Lib Dems at Tuesday's cabinet meeting, when it emerged that Osborne, the chancellor, had stood up to his coalition partners by arguing for legislation pledging an EU referendum by 2017. The promise of a poll by this date is opposed by the deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg, and his Lib Dem colleagues, but surveys suggest it is backed by the public – and Tory voters in particular.
In a second plank of the attack, Cameron used the cabinet meeting to argue in favour of laws introducing powers for the public to sack MPs for serious wrongdoing – a policy he was previously thought to have abandoned for this parliament. This infuriated the Lib Dems as only a few weeks ago they had publicly accused the prime minister of dropping these proposals for "recall" in yet another Tory U-turn.
Tim Farron, the Lib Dem president, tweeted: "Up until now the Tories have consistently blocked our calls for a recall bill – hope they stick to their sudden conversion and don't flip-flop."
The prime minister's spokesman confirmed the topics had been discussed in cabinet, saying there was no "secret that Conservative members of the cabinet would want to see an EU referendum bill". In terms of Lib Dem opposition, he said there was not a "change in longstanding positions".
In a third blow to the Lib Dems, Cameron confirmed the government would accept recommendations for a 3% rise in the minimum wage and pledged to "restore its value" in the longer term. This announcement was due to be made within weeks by Vince Cable, the Lib Dem business secretary.
The prime minister said he agreed that a rise to £6.50 should take place this October, in line with the advice of the Low Pay Commission, and after George Osborne said he ultimately wanted it to rise to £7.
Speaking in Coventry on Tuesday, Cameron said: "Restoring the value of the minimum wage is a vital part of how we secure a recovery for all, with economic security for every working family in Britain … So yes, I look forward to accepting this recommendation." He also hinted at further tax cuts for the low paid, which could include a further increase in the level at which people start paying tax from the threshold of £10,000 – a key Lib Dem policy.
On Tuesday morning, Nick Clegg accused his coalition partners of displaying "brass neck" over their efforts to claim ownership of an expected increase in the personal tax allowance in the budget this month.
The deputy prime minister said the Conservatives had been "spectacularly inconsistent" over tax policy after they initially prioritised tax cuts for the rich before embracing the Liberal Democrat manifesto pledge of raising the personal allowance to £10,000.
Reports over the weekend suggested Osborne was preparing to "nick" the policy, having told Tory MPs that polling showed that hardly any voters knew it was a Lib Dem idea.
