Just whistled through the Lib Dem manifesto.

Didn’t spot the words “trade union” anywhere. Lib Dems have a deep, abiding hostility to organised labour.

Didn’t like the policy of ending Government payments into Child Trust Funds. These are popular in Pendle and encourage the savings habit. They are also going to restrict tax credits.

Winter Fuel Payments are to be delayed until 65 but current recipients of Pension Credit will continue to get WFP. Hmmm. Going to be lots of unhappy people shortly.

Then a pledge that catches my eye. The Lib Dem wants to bring 250,000 empty homes back into use and will give grants to owners who are social landlords and loans to owners in the private sector. I want to know more. Sounds like a lot of money could be involved.

Regional Development Agencies will continue – but only if they have strong support. How is that going to be measured? If they don’t have support they will be taken over by local authorities.

I support their plans to encourage mutuals, co-ops and social enterprises.

Faith schools get a mention. This is a matter of some interest here in Pendle. The Lib Dems will allow the establishment of new faith schools but would ensure that they develop an all-inclusive admissions policy. Not too sure what that means in practice.

Students everywhere will be cheering the commitment to scrap “unfair university tuition fees”. But the cheer may be a tad muted when the students learn this will take six years.

I note there is nothing about re-instating Accident and Emergency departments that have been downgraded to Urgent Care Centre status. It has been a big issue here in East Lancashire.

The Lib Dems want new elected Health Boards - a long standing demand. These boards would take over the commissioning role of PCTs. More organisational change. But it ain't gonna happen.

A lot of their promises have big question marks hanging above them. Regulate the parking system to remove unfairness. Yes?

Or what about giving people a say in how petty criminals are punished. Bring back the stocks?

And the Lib Dems are proposing an amnesty for people who have been here illegally for ten years.

There is a lot more that people will cheer. Giving the bankers a good kicking is a very popular sport at the moment.

Or putting them in the stocks perhaps?

That’s my idea.