Six of the Best 340

"Last month, I wrote to Nick Clegg ... asking for the Liberal Democrats to stop the government’s proposals to curtail benefits for immigrants. Not only did I not receive a reply, but I witnessed the Liberal Democrats’ leader espouse the same xenophobic rhetoric." Blunt & Disorderly on leaving the party.

Les Bonner reports Catherine Bearder's demand for a ban on pesticides that can harm bees.

Politics in Tower Hamlets is no cleaner than ever it was, according to Left Futures.

The History of Emotions Blog on five years of the NHS Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme.

"While it struggles to keep hold of creative arts, the state has monopoly control over key material assets, such as the television and radio waves, newspaper distribution system, cinemas, concert halls, and education system. It has the police and special military forces at its disposal, and has shown repeatedly that it is not afraid to deploy them." Open Democracy on the battle for cultural expression in Belarus.

The poet Tom Chivers chooses five secret London spots for Now. Here. This.