We are now in the final stages of the Government's listening exercise on proposals to reform the NHS.
An unusual thing for government to do: pausing legislation because we didn't get all of the substance right. Accepting that we now need to make changes - in some cases, significant ones. But a process that is proving immensely helpful in producing the best set of reforms we can.
I am delighted to be here to talk about the Coalition Government's actions on the environment - and in particular on climate change.
The PM and I have set out our ambition to be 'the greenest government ever'. That might sound either grandiloquent, or setting the bar pretty low, depending on your point of view.
I think it is obvious that this is a moment when as a party we need to take a hard look at ourselves. We were given a bloody nose by the voters last week. We lost almost 750 council seats. And of course the AV referendum delivered a clear 'no' vote.
So, a year into coalition government, some vital questions are being asked. In particular - what does this mean for the Liberal Democrats? And what does it mean for the Government? I am going to try and answer those questions today.
Woking Liberal Democrats were proud to welcome Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the Liberal Democrats Nick Clegg to Woking this afternoon.
In a visit to Broadmere Community Primary School in Maybury and Sheerwater, Nick Clegg spent time talking to staff and pupils and helping them with school work. Nick also took time out to meet with local election candidates and give interviews to national and local media.
Catherine Bearder, Member of the European Parliament for South East England visited Woking for a cup of tea and an informal chat with volunteers and customers at Strollers in Goldsworth Park on Friday. The visit emphasised the valuable work of volunteers in the community and highlighted the European Year of Volunteering 2011.
"I'm shocked and frankly appalled by the distortions being spun today by Baroness Warsi and the 'No' campaign.
"Using the battle of Cable Street for her wildly inaccurate argument undermines the heroic and important action of that day, it ridicules the progress our society has made and will appeal only to the very people she says she wishes to stop.
The decision on whether we should replace the "First-Past-The-Post" system with the Alternative Voteon May 5thwill be a defining political moment.
A"Yes"vote for change will mean FAIRNESS and will take our country forward.
It will:
Make politicians work harder to achieve more than 50% of the vote. With AV, parties will have to pay far more attention to the majority of people during election time, not just chase after a few marginal constituencies.
Give greater legitimacy to MPs, since those elected will have the support of a broader base of people.
Better reflect our country as it is today. Labour and the Conservatives are no longer the "Top Two". Many smaller parties, includingUKIP and the Greens, are in favour of AV -only the BNP are against.
