It's the last day of the year, so it's time to look back on the events that have caught the attention of this blog over the past 12 months...
In January I suggested that Lib Dem Scottish secretary, Michael Moore should stop trying to impede Alex Salmond from holding a referendum of his choosing.
In February a group called Liberal Left was set up. I wasn't impressed.
March saw the sad deaths of Lib Dem stalwarts Viv Bingham and David Walter along with former darts champion Jocky Wilson.
In April, former Liberal leader David Steel said some very foolish things about Lords' reform on national TV.
May saw the climax of the football season (or anti-climax if you are a Hibs fan) and the final implosion of Glasgow Rangers. In politics a local by-election in North Richmond saw some very dodgy tactics by anti-Lib Dem elements.
In June Jeremy Hunt's ministerial career was on the line and the abstention by Lib Dem MPs on a crucial vote suggested to me that it was time to change the rules of government collective responsibility to better reflect the nature of coalition.
In July I highlighted the bizarre behaviour of Kingston's Tories who backed (and continue to back) benefit fraud probe councillor, Tim Dennen.
August saw the spotlight on the future of Nick Clegg and his political strategy with the departure of his so-called strategist Richard Reeves. Polling evidence contradicted them both.
In September, David Laws returned to government, the Lib Dems caved into ludicrous security demands for their annual conference and Nick Clegg's conference speech began to unravel in the blogosphere.
In October I gave some advice to the Guardian that might have dealt with some of their financial woes. But there seemed to nothing that could deal with the self inflicted financial crisis at Edinburgh's second football team - Hearts.
November was a month for elections with the re-election of President Obama and the first votes for police and crime commissioners in the UK. And it also saw a welcome - if belated - development with the Lib Dems reversing their support for more internet snooping powers.
And this brings us to December - and the news that income inequality had fallen under the coaltion in contrast to the rises under Labour.
So that's it for another year - and I wish you all a happy 2013.
In January I suggested that Lib Dem Scottish secretary, Michael Moore should stop trying to impede Alex Salmond from holding a referendum of his choosing.
In February a group called Liberal Left was set up. I wasn't impressed.
March saw the sad deaths of Lib Dem stalwarts Viv Bingham and David Walter along with former darts champion Jocky Wilson.
In April, former Liberal leader David Steel said some very foolish things about Lords' reform on national TV.
May saw the climax of the football season (or anti-climax if you are a Hibs fan) and the final implosion of Glasgow Rangers. In politics a local by-election in North Richmond saw some very dodgy tactics by anti-Lib Dem elements.
In June Jeremy Hunt's ministerial career was on the line and the abstention by Lib Dem MPs on a crucial vote suggested to me that it was time to change the rules of government collective responsibility to better reflect the nature of coalition.
In July I highlighted the bizarre behaviour of Kingston's Tories who backed (and continue to back) benefit fraud probe councillor, Tim Dennen.
August saw the spotlight on the future of Nick Clegg and his political strategy with the departure of his so-called strategist Richard Reeves. Polling evidence contradicted them both.
In September, David Laws returned to government, the Lib Dems caved into ludicrous security demands for their annual conference and Nick Clegg's conference speech began to unravel in the blogosphere.
In October I gave some advice to the Guardian that might have dealt with some of their financial woes. But there seemed to nothing that could deal with the self inflicted financial crisis at Edinburgh's second football team - Hearts.
November was a month for elections with the re-election of President Obama and the first votes for police and crime commissioners in the UK. And it also saw a welcome - if belated - development with the Lib Dems reversing their support for more internet snooping powers.
And this brings us to December - and the news that income inequality had fallen under the coaltion in contrast to the rises under Labour.
So that's it for another year - and I wish you all a happy 2013.
