Welcome to the Golden Dozen, and our 376th 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 May 2014), together with a hand-picked quintet, 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’s rather more to the story of “police call on someone who tweeted criticism of UKIP“ by Mark Pack on Mark Pack.
Police were heavy handed, but ministers need to stop their 11 year procrastination and sort out rules about online campaigning.
2. Why, in spite of everything, I still respect Nick Clegg by Mark Mills on Matter of Facts.
Mark can’t bring himself to dislike Clegg, personally or politically.
3. The Clegg Conundrum by Peter Black on Peter Black.
I wish I could give you a clue about what this was about, but for some reason I can’t read it. Hope you have better luck.
4. So what’s happening in the Liverpool elections? by Richard Kemp on But what does Richard Kemp think?
People don’t like the Labour Council or the elected Mayor – and Richard has walked 200 miles since Easter Monday delivering leaflets.
5. Dudley Conservatives scoop the bar chart prize by Mark Pack on Mark Pack.
It’s unbelievable that this got as far as the printer, let alone the doorstep.
6. Eurovision: The British public did not put Conchita Wurst first by Jonathan Calder on Liberal England.
In fact, we loved the bawdy Polish entry but the jury was a bit sniffy about it so it got nothing from us.
7. How are Norman Baker and Simon Hughes faring as ministers? by Jonathan Calder on Liberal England.
Jonathan highlights an assessment from the Independent.
And now to the five blog-posts that come highly recommended, regardless of the number of Aggregator click-throughs they attracted. To nominate a Lib Dem blog article published in the past seven days – your own, or someone else’s, all you have to do is drop a line to [email protected]. You can also contact us via Twitter, where we’re @libdemvoice
8. On achieving decriminalisation of sex work: Framing the debate by Ewan Hoyle on Ewan has something to say.
The Scottish Party is making policy on protecting the dignity and rights of sex workers. Ewan puts his ideas forward.
9. Questions to which the answer is UKIP #qtwaiu by Jennie Rigg on Klaatu… Verata… Necktie.
Jennie’s not saying don’t vote for UKIP…
10.Where have I been? by Andrew Brown on Andrew Brown: Liberal Democrat candidate for Windmill Hill.
A first time Council candidate tells us what he’s been up to – and why those doorstep conversations matter.
11. How to avoid the parental elephant trap of “Shouldn’t you be revising?” by Paul Walter on Liberal Burblings.
In the week of my teenager’s first proper exams, I found Paul’s very calm post very helpful.
12. We seek them here, we seek them there. Where is Labour on Europe? by Lynne Featherstone MP on My Blog.
They’re far too busy with the class war to be bothered with practical things that actually affect people, while Sarah Ludford gets on with championing civil liberties and helping businesses. .
Two bonuses this week: the first is not from a Liberal Democrat, but from actor and writer Jon Dryden Taylor who posted this brilliant response to the UKIP council candidate who thought it might be a good idea to shoot one gay person to silence the rest. Nigel Farage was confronted with this on LBC in that great James O’Brien interview.
The second is written by Jack Carr, who’s president of St Andrew’s University Lib Dems. For IBD Day tomorrow, he’s written a very moving and honest account of his experience of living with Crohn’s Disease. One thing that humbled me was that when he was really ill earlier this year, he still took the time to help me out as I prepared for my debate at the University.
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