Welcome to the Golden Dozen, and our 265th weekly round-up from the Lib Dem blogosphere … Featuring the seven most popular stories beyond Lib Dem Voice according to click-throughs from the Aggregator (11-17 March, 2012), together with a hand-picked quintet, normally courtesy of LibDig, you might otherwise have missed.

Don’t forget: you can sign up to receive the Golden Dozen direct to your email inbox — just click here — ensuring you never miss out on the best of Lib Dem blogging.

As ever, let’s start with the most popular post, and work our way down:

1. The leadership’s three major blunders on the NHS Bill by Caron Lindsay on Caron’s Musings.
Caron’s verdict on the Shirley Williams Motion at Spring Conference.

2. On That NHS Debate…. on Gareth Epps’ blog.
“Effectively the hot potato has been thrown back to Lib Dem Parliamentarians,” says Gareth.

3. For the first time, I’m not sure I understand the Lib Dems #NHSBill on Mark Thompson’s blog.
Mark warns of reaping an electoral whirlwind.

4. How fractured are the Lib Dems? by Harry Matthews on Yellow Tinted Spectacles.
Need factions be fractious, or is it just healthy debate? Harry seeks the sweet spot.

5. I should quit the Liberal Democrats to save the NHS? You are kidding, aren’t you? by Mark Valladares on The View from Creeting St Peter.
Mark would rather hoist the “battle-scarred banner of liberalism”.

6. Leaving the Lib Dems by George Potter on The Potter Blogger.
They’re leaving, but George isn’t…

7. Once upon a time in a land (not so far) away… – Why I’m still a member of the Lib Dems by Neil Monnery on The Rambles of Neil Monnery.
…And neither is Neil.

And now to the five blog-posts that come highly recommended, regardless of the number of Aggregator click-throughs they attracted. These are normally chosen using the LibDig bookmarking website for party members, the site where you can highlight blog-posts you want to share with your fellow Lib Dems. Remember, though, you’re still more than welcome to nominate for the Golden Dozen a Lib Dem blog article published in the past seven days – your own, or someone else’s – using the steam-powered method of e-mail … all you have to do is drop a line to [email protected]

8. Ken Livingstone: When the Trans community has friends like these… by Zoe O’Connell on Complicity.
“Zoe looks at the Labour London mayoral candidate’s recent mistakes over Trans issues.” (Submitted by Stephen Glenn via LibDig.)

9. If – with Liberal apologies to Rudyard Kipling by Stephen Glenn on Stephen’s Liberal Journal.
“Stephen Glenn poetically blogs about liberal beliefs and the LibDem preamble to the constitution.” (Submitted by zoeimogen via LibDig.)

10. #ldconf, the NHS Bill, and Where The Leadership Stands Now by Andy Hinton on Wouldn’t It Be Scarier.
“Well worth reading. I don’t agree with every word, but there’s a lot of serious, sober analysis here.” (Submitted by stephenftall via LibDig.)

11. If we’d had the power of recall, Eric Joyce would be a goner by Lisa Harding on Spiderplantland.
“Spidey points out quite correctly that Eric Joyce would be sacked from any other job for doing what he did, and if the power of recall was available, his constituents would have the chance to do exactly that.” (Submitted by cjmillsnun via LibDig.)

12. It’s time I spoke out on the NHS: I’m angry, but probably not for reasons you’ve heard by Andrew Emmerson on the Yellow Bastard.
“Andrew speaks out on the NHS debate. I think it’s fair to say he’s not at all happy at what he has seen from all sides, and isn’t afraid to say why. Well worth a read, and a lot for all to consider about how we tackle things in the future.” (Submitted by cjw500 via LibDig.)

And that’s it for another week. Happy blogging ‘n’ reading ‘n’ nominating.

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