Whilst looking up the words “Put it on a piece of paper, shove it through a letter box”, David Penhaligon, this LDV link came up from September 2012:

“What the three departing Lib Dem ministers said as they leave Government”

How interesting and I am afraid depressing to read what three of our retiring Ministers said on their dismissal 13 years ago.

Sarah Teather rightly saying:

I’m hugely proud of the part I have been able to play in ending child detention, and rolling out the pupil premium, giving free nursery places to disadvantaged two year olds, amongst many other achievements.” And we should never forget that.  But also “Particularly close to my heart has been the work to reform the system of support for children and families with special educational needs and disability.

One of the crying out needs today about the need for a much better system for SEND children and their families.  Let us not forget that the fight started there,

Paul Burstow:

Having dedicated most of my political career to improving the health and care of others it has been an absolute privilege to be directly involved in framing a new social care law and working closely with colleagues in the sector to set out a reform agenda in the Care and Support White Paper.  In the last two years or so I have been able to introduce policies that will improve the mental health of adults and children, the care of older people and the diagnosis of dementia.

How crucial it is today that the care system is reformed.  Let us not forget the fight that started with that white paper.

Nick Harvey:

This has been a challenging period and we have had to make very tough and sometimes unpalatable decisions about reductions in our defences, at the same time as sustaining the operation in Afghanistan.

Those decisions about reduction in our defences will have been Tory ones.  Whilst I have different personal opinions on defence, let us not forget that it was the Conservatives that made the cuts.

In looking back on the great work started by those three “retired” ministers we can be proud of what they started and achieved in just two years in office.  You don’t need me to say that is what the party has to continue with.

In writing this article, I sincerely hope that discussion will be about those policies, and not an opportunity to “have a go” at coalition decisions, but I might chip in on bad communications!

* Suzanne Fletcher was a councillor for nearly 30 years and a voluntary advice worker with the CAB for 40 years. Now retired, she is active as a campaigner in the community both as a Lib Dem and with local organisations and author of "Bold as Brass?", the story of Brass Crosby.