Welcome to the Golden Dozen, and our 356th 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 (1-7 December 2013), 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. “There isn’t any UKIP in Scotland, it’s been wiped out” by Jonathan Calder on Liberal England.
Trouble in Farage’s northern flank, not particularly successful at its best.

2. I am not a “Liberal Democrat”  by Chris Smith on A Liberal Democrat in the Royal Borough.
At least, he isn’t what many people think a Liberal Democrat is…

3. The staggering re-invention of Clegg  by David Boyle on The Real Blog.
The media are starting to realise that things don’t happen in Government unless Nick says so.

4. By-election night 17 by Dan Falchikov on Living on words alone.
Dan’s weekly look ahead to the council by-elections around the country.

5. Brent Labour councillor defects to the Liberal Democrats by Charlotte Henry on Digital Politico.
A real blow to Labour to lose someone so long-serving, reports Charlotte.

6. Nick Clegg on human rights in China by Jonathan Calder on Liberal England.
An old quote, but a good one.

7. Bingo! It’s a poll finding on a proper political question that puts Nick Clegg top by Mark Pack  on Mark Pack.
Our guy is most trusted on the environment.

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. Good advice on coalitions that was never given by Peter Black on Peter Black.
Would the course of history have been changed if Labour had asked Rhodri Morgan what he thought in 2010. (Submitted by Peter Black via Twitter.)

9. The end of the tax disc: good news. Now can we have an app for that? by Tim Prater on Tim Prater, Parish Councillor for Sandgate.
Unless we can check whether a car is taxed, it’s harder for citizens to act on abandoned cars. (Submitted by Tim via Twitter.)

10. Why 20-somethings should stand for Council by Alex Smethurst on A Blog by Alex Smethurst, Redlands’ liberal voice.
It makes sense to engage young people in politics and ensure the council group represents the diversity of the population. (Submitted by Alex via Twitter.)

11. Some thoughts on the Tom Daley reactions by Stephen Glenn on Stephen’s Liberal Journal.
Stephen celebrates the good and challenges the not so good. (Submitted by Stephen via Twitter.)

12. Farewell, Madiba by Andrew Page on A Scottish Liberal.
A celebration of a “complete human being.”

And here’s one that got away – a nomination received but which I forgot about last week:

A really weird Scottish dream by Paul Walter on Liberal Burblings.
Paul has been dreaming about Nicola Sturgeon.

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

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* Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings