"Perhaps because of the nature of the technology, there is a tendency for political blogs to have a 'Samizdat' style. The most popular blogs are rightwing, ranging from the considered Tory views of Iain Dale, to the vicious nihilism of Guido Fawkes. Perhaps this is simply anti-establishment. Blogs have only existed under a Labour government. Perhaps if there was a Tory government, all the leading blogs would be left-of-centre?
"But mostly, political blogs are written by people with disdain for the political system and politicians, who see their function as unearthing scandals, conspiracies and perceived hypocrisy.
"Until political blogging 'adds value' to our political culture, by allowing new voices, ideas and legitimate protest and challenge, and until the mainstream media reports politics in a calmer, more responsible manner, it will continue to fuel a culture of cynicism and despair."
Couldn't be anything to do with the fact that our MPs are supine invertebrates with no discernible talent who acquiesce to any authoritarian idiocy emanating from No 10 or Brussels? Or who disregard democracy itself by entering office unelected, eg Gordon Brown (unelected Prime Minister; Lord Mandelson, unelected cabinet minister, etc).
Astonishingly, however, Blears cottons on to something true:
She will also warn that the development of career politicans is making ordinary people feel excluded.
"Increasingly we have seen a 'transmission belt' from university activist, MP's researcher, thinktank staffer, special adviser, to MP, and ultimately frontbench. Now, there's nothing wrong with any of those jobs, but it is deeply unhealthy for our political class to be drawn from narrowing social base and range of experience."
Unfortunately, her own career is hardly off the transmssion belt: graduating in law, going into practice then entering local government. Hardly an unusal career path for a modern politician. Hardly outside the hermetically-sealed world of politics, is it, Hazel?
If Blears wants to know why people are cynical all she need do is look in the mirror.
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