As Tony Blair announces the date that he will depart,perhaps one of his legacy's will be the diminution of the role of Parliament.
The Blair years have seen Parliament's role in the debate and argument of issues take second place to Presidential policy making and spin.
His attendance in the chamber has been patchy,no more so than his refusal to attend the recent debate on Iraq.
Indeed,the press have responded by reducing the role of the Parliamentary reporter relying instead on the off the record briefings and gossip.
I attended yesterday's debates whilst I was down in London and was surprised by how few journalists were covering it.Important ministerial statements on Northern Ireland the new ministry for justice were watched by maybe 2-3 correspondents.
Instead it is the political bloggers such as Iain Dale and Guido Fawkes who keep our elected representatives under scrutiny.
The Blair years have seen Parliament's role in the debate and argument of issues take second place to Presidential policy making and spin.
His attendance in the chamber has been patchy,no more so than his refusal to attend the recent debate on Iraq.
Indeed,the press have responded by reducing the role of the Parliamentary reporter relying instead on the off the record briefings and gossip.
I attended yesterday's debates whilst I was down in London and was surprised by how few journalists were covering it.Important ministerial statements on Northern Ireland the new ministry for justice were watched by maybe 2-3 correspondents.
Instead it is the political bloggers such as Iain Dale and Guido Fawkes who keep our elected representatives under scrutiny.
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