Time flies – Friday already! And is it really 29 years to the day that the Gang of Four launched a new political party: the Social Democrats?

Roy Jenkins said at the launch:

We want to get away from the politics of our dated dogmatism and class confrontation. We want to release the energies of people who are fed up with the old slanging match.

Watch the video of the launch here.

2 Big Stories

Digital economy bill to be pushed through parliament next month

The controversial digital economy bill will be pushed through in the “wash-up” leading up to an election, after the government confirmed that it will receive its second reading in the Commons on 6 April – the same day that Gordon Brown is expected to seek Parliament’s dissolution.

Harriet Harman, the leader of the house, said today that the bill will get its second reading. But when questioned by Labour MPs Neil Gerrard and Tom Watson about the lack of time given to debate over controversial issues in the bill, she said only that “ministers are aware” of the strong feelings that the proposed legislation has engendered. [Guardian]

Heathrow protesters win third runway challenge

Campaigners have won a High Court battle for further consultation into plans for a third runway at Heathrow Airport.

Councils, residents and green groups had said the government’s approval of the runway was flawed by “conspicuously unfair” public consultations.

The group argued that the expansion decision was at odds with the UK’s overall climate change targets. [BBC]

Susan Kramer, MP for Richmond Park, who leads the Liberal Democrat campaign against the third runway commented:

This is a declaration of victory, the final nail in the coffin for the Government’s attempts to steamroll over local and national opposition to its disastrous third runway plans.

The expansion of Heathrow would be a catastrophe for our climate and for the thousands of Londoners who would be forced to live with the huge disruption it will cause.”

There is no way the Government can tear up what it has already done and start again – because we know the real climate change figures prove that there is no economic case for expansion at all.

Labour tough talk on climate change is just hot air.

2 Must-Read Blog Posts

What are other Liberal Democrat bloggers saying? Here are two posts that caught my eye from the Liberal Democrat Blogs aggregator:

• Interview with Ed Fordham, Lib Dem PPC for Hampstead and Kilburn on Lib Dem TV.

Mark “Reckons” Thompson asks Ed about “his earlier days in the party, his campaign, online engagement and how his experiences as a Chess player have helped with his political career.” A delightful little video – how does Ed manage to look so relaxed and dimplesome at this stage in his intense campaign?

• A Proud day

Chris Davies MEP on a win for diversity: “The right of people to buy bendy bananas, crooked carrots and curvy cucumbers has been maintained.”

Spotted any other great posts in the last day from blogs that aren’t on the aggregator? Do post up a comment sharing them with us all.