This is the last time I will be writing this column, which I’ve been doing for more than six years.

I’ve enjoyed the weekly chore, and I’ve enjoyed people’s responses – public and private – even more.

But this seems a good moment to stop.

Politics is changing and I fear I’ll be spending a lot more of my time fighting battles within the Liberal Democrats and within the coalition.

I am frankly appalled by the stream of bad news that is coming out of the Government.

If I continue to write these columns they will inevitably consist of weekly attacks on my own party which I’d rather not do.

I was going to write a piece today about the way that the next wave of Building Schools for the Future projects in this area have been ‘stopped’.

It seems to me that the announcement by the Education Secretary Michael Gove was an example of political stupidity – quite apart from his incompetence in getting many of them wrong.

I agree that BSF has been a top-heavy, over bureaucratic, and extremely expensive way of building new schools and improving others. It’s a typical New Labour way of doing things.

There was much to be said for slowing down the whole project, dismantling the quangos, passing responsibility to local authorities and taking a careful look at many of the schemes.

But throwing these schools into a void like this is just wrong.

I also want to know why the Liberal Democrats are going along with the ridiculous proposals for ‘free schools’ and for existing schools to convert to academies at the expense of the rest – another madcap Gove scheme.

Or why we are being asked to back Andrew Lansley’s plan to break up the NHS by handing control to GPs – just one of the many groups that make up the diverse and complex service – and inevitably to the private companies that they will employ.

Or why the cuts in money for councils that have already been announced appearto be targeted at the areas most in need such as Pennine Lancashire?

Or the latest threats to local bus services?

I have said enough.

Thanks to everyone who has read my columns over the years.

Meanwhile it seems there is a lot of work to be done elsewhere.

Wish me luck!