Six of the Best 313

"The truth is that the Lib Dems badly need a central organising economic idea. They have survived for too long now on a bundle of issues around fairness and civil liberties, which - although important - are not winning reasons for government." So says David Boyle on The Real Blog.

"French actor Gérard Depardieu is in trouble with Russian liberals for his planned move to Russia," reports Simon Titley on Liberator's blog. "This move has earned a stern rebuke from the liberal party Yabloko (a member party of Liberal International). The chairman of Yabloko’s Mordovia branch has written an open letter to Depardieu with three questions to which he would like an answer."

Aberystwyth University defends its practice of accepting students with only two Es at A level. "Not everyone can achieve their full potential at school, and it’s our job to spot the talent and add the value so more people can do so at University. So, are standards at Aberystwyth high? Absolutely! Do we sometimes admit students without conventional qualifications or with lower than usual grades? Guilty as charged, m’lord – and seriously proud of it."

A people's buy-out of Britain's farmland? Colin Tudge considers the practicalities on the Soil Association site.

Harvard Gazette on a panel discussion about gun violence in America.

The career of John Auden - geologist, mountaineer and brother of the poet - is explored by Deborah Baker on The Caravan.