2 Must-Read Blog Posts

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

• Do fathers have to be at the birth to bond?

Sara Bedford underlines the importance of personal choice, especially for an event as personal as birth.

• Deep breath… Tarquin Fintim-Limbim-Whimbim-Lim Bus Stop-F’Tang-F’Tang-Olé-Biscuit-Barrel – 238 votes, but Shirley Williams (SDP/Liberal Alliance) 28,118… John Ault remembers Shirley Williams’ victory for the SDP in the Crosby by-election, 28 years ago yesterday.

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.

2 Big Stories

Hacker Gary McKinnon to appeal after extradition blow
The BBC reports that Gary McKinnon’s lawyers are to make a “last-ditch” attempt to prevent his extradition to the US. They are issuing judicial review proceedings next week after Home Secretary alan Johnson decided not to block his extradition on medical grounds.

Glasgow-born Mr McKinnon, 43, who has Asperger’s syndrome, is accused of breaking into US military computers. He says he was seeking UFO evidence.

Now of Wood Green, London, he faces up to 60 years in prison if convicted.

House of Lords: peers given £30,000 tax free plus allowances
From the Telegraph:

Peers will receive a tax-free annual salary of nearly £30,000 on top of allowances worth £20,000 under reforms to be introduced following a series of expenses scandals.

For the first time, members of the Lords are to receive a daily fee of £200, described as a “contribution to income,” for clocking in at the upper chamber, even if they stay for only a couple of hours.

Norman Baker, the Liberal Democrat MP who has campaigned for more openness for Parliamentary expenses, [said]: “This falls well short of what is required. It is a game of Monopoly – pass Go and collect £200.”