My youngest daughter’s 17th birthday today. I have to get her up for presents and cards at 7.30am – poor thing. Finished her AS’s yesterday thank goodness. So dash off to work. Am studying the news very hard this week as I am on Question Time tomorrow and live in terror of not knowing about some issue that may come up.

Lib Dem Home Affairs Team first thing – and we thrash out our views on the terror raid in Forrest Gate, discuss trafficking and general crime issues. I have to leave early to go and meet the School Council from Fortsimere School who I have sponsored for a tour and who come up to see the exhibition of some of their work on display at the House. The new head is with them and I ask him for a meeting to discuss the school’s desire or otherwise to become a foundation school. I am against this on principle – but Haringey have screwed them financially to the point where I guess they feel it is Hobson’s choice. I will try and persuade them – but in the end – so long as there is a proper democratic process for making this decision – it has to be for the school, the students, the governors, the staff and the parents to decide.

I go to PMQs – and then stay both for the statement on the NHS and then the Opposition Debate on Tax Credits. What a mess – both of them!