FOCUS: UK Vote To Raise Coalition Tensions, Threaten Austerity - Wall Street Journal

By Michelle Abrego and Jenna Layne Voigt

Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

LONDON (Dow Jones)--The U.K.'s coalition government faces its first major test of voter support Thursday, and the results are likely to place added strain on the relationship between the Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties.

Opinion polls suggest that while both parties will suffer setbacks in local and regional government elections, the Liberal Democrats will suffer most. And it also appears likely that the junior coalition partner will fail to achieve a long-cherished change to the voting system.

That combination will likely leave Liberal Democrat activists increasingly concerned about the ...