Blair 'doesn't recognise' sofa government claim

Blair defends relationship with MPs

Monday, 18, Jun 2007 12:00

Tony Blair finished his final cross-examination by the public liaison committee with a defence of his performance as prime minister.

After Lord Butler criticised his 'sofa-style' of government, Mr Blair denied he had sidelined parliament and insisted he did not recognise the image portrayed by Lord Butler.

He said: "I don't believe I am the first prime minister who has discussed issues with a few people close to me."

"It is true there is a sofa in my study but that can not be a huge innovation either."

Mr Blair insisted policy proposals were still developed by individual departments, including controversial measures such as nuclear power.

It was also put to Mr Blair that he had the worst voting record of any recent prime minister, had spoken in just four speeches, excluding the Queen's speeches, and had relied on the Parliament Act.

Mr Blair again denied he had sidelined MPs, insisting he had been open to scrutiny. He said he had answered more questions from MPs than any other prime ministers, as well as appearing twice-yearly before the liaison committee.

The prime minister said: "All of the major public service reforms we've done in the last few years have been not just through cabinet committees but cabinet itself, with detailed discussion on it.

"I have spent longer answering questions in the House of Commons than either of my predecessors."

He also refuted the suggestion his attack on the "feral" press had been hypocritical. He dismissed claims the press should have read any meaning into his decision to move Alistair Campbell into the Whips' office.

Turning to other issues, the outgoing prime minister called for a "permanent revolution" in public services, adding the public have high expectations for future improvements.

He argued for "self-sustaining and self-generating" reforms in schools and hospitals and warned against the "forces of conservatism" in the public sector unions.

Mr Blair accused the unions of seemingly competing over who could be the most resistant to change.

The prime minister established the liaison committee in 2002 to give select committee chairmen the opportunity to quiz him on forthcoming policy.

In his final full-week as prime minister, Mr Blair will also chair Thursday's Cabinet meeting as well as attending the EU summit in Brussels.