DEPUTY Prime Minister Nick Clegg has said Coalition Government allows politicians to let off steam about their differences more openly.

The Liberal Democrat made the claim following allegations that Labour's Ed Balls and Douglas Alexander almost came to blows during a row over Europe policy.

The pro-Europe Paisley and Renfrewshire South MP was said to be angry at Mr Balls for leading Labour's backing of rebel Tory MPs in a vote in 2012 demanding an EU budget cut whilst in the US.

It is alleged Dame Tessa Jowell had to separate the warring pair. But Mr Clegg told the BBC Five Live's Pienaar's Politics programme he and Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron had agreed not to personalise issues that separate them and "certainly not" to resort to fisticuffs.