Joining The Dots.

Hazel Blears is unhappy about bloggers.

But she added: "Unless and until political blogging 'adds value' to our political culture, by allowing new and disparate 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 pessimism."

The rather Orwellian talk about "legitimate protest" and "allowing" new voices is dealt with elsewhere. I want to deal with the culture of cynicism aspect. Blaming bloggers or the media for public cynicism about politicians is like blaming wet pavements for rain, if politicians treat people like idiots and exult in tricking the general public then they cannot be blamed for being cynical. Take Blears herself, how else can we look at someone who pulls a stunt like this?

Hazel Blears was forced to defend herself against charges of hypocrisy yesterday after she joined a protest against the proposed closure of a maternity unit in her constituency.

Admiration perhaps? She isn't the only Labour cabinet minister to have joined protests against their own government's decisions.