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Blears attacks political bloggers Blears attacks political bloggers
(about 1 hour later)
Political blogs are fuelling a culture of cynicism about politics, communities secretary Hazel Blears will claim. Political blogs are fuelling a culture of cynicism about politics, communities secretary Hazel Blears has claimed.
Ms Blears will also attack the "deeply unhealthy" number of government jobs given to career politicians with little experience beyond Westminster. Ms Blears also attacked the "deeply unhealthy" number of government jobs given to career politicians with little experience beyond Westminster.
She will say Britain needed a new generation of working-class politicians such as Labour's Dennis Skinner and Conservative maverick David Davis. In a speech she said a new generation of working-class politicians was needed such as Labour's Dennis Skinner and Conservative maverick David Davis.
One blogger suggested political spin was more to blame for voters' cynicism.One blogger suggested political spin was more to blame for voters' cynicism.
'Transmission belt''Transmission belt'
Ms Blears, who had a career as a local government solicitor before becoming a politician, will complain in a speech about political disengagement to the Hansard Society, that some Westminster colleagues live on "planet politics" and lacked real-life experience. Ms Blears, who had a career as a local government solicitor before becoming a politician, complained in a speech about political disengagement to the Hansard Society, that some Westminster colleagues live on "planet politics" and lacked real-life experience.
"There is a trend towards politics being seen as a career move rather than a call to public service," she will say. "There is a trend towards politics being seen as a career move rather than a call to public service," she said.
"Increasingly we have seen a 'transmission belt' from university activist, MPs' researcher, think-tank staffer, special adviser, to Member of Parliament and ultimately to the front bench."Increasingly we have seen a 'transmission belt' from university activist, MPs' researcher, think-tank staffer, special adviser, to Member of Parliament and ultimately to the front bench.
We need more MPs in Parliament from a wider pool of backgrounds Hazel BlearsWe need more MPs in Parliament from a wider pool of backgrounds Hazel Blears
"Now, there's nothing wrong with any of those jobs, but it is deeply unhealthy for our political class to be drawn from a narrowing social base and range of experience."Now, there's nothing wrong with any of those jobs, but it is deeply unhealthy for our political class to be drawn from a narrowing social base and range of experience.
"We need people from a range of backgrounds - business, the armed forces, scientists, teachers, the NHS, shopworkers - to make good laws."We need people from a range of backgrounds - business, the armed forces, scientists, teachers, the NHS, shopworkers - to make good laws.
"And we need more MPs in Parliament from a wider pool of backgrounds: people who know what it is to worry about the rent collector's knock, or the fear of lay-off, so that the decisions we take reflect the realities people face."And we need more MPs in Parliament from a wider pool of backgrounds: people who know what it is to worry about the rent collector's knock, or the fear of lay-off, so that the decisions we take reflect the realities people face.
"In short, we need more Dennis Skinners, more David Davis's, more David Blunketts in the front line of politics," she will conclude - calling on parties and trade unions to actively recruit them in the same way as they have women and ethnic minorities."In short, we need more Dennis Skinners, more David Davis's, more David Blunketts in the front line of politics," she will conclude - calling on parties and trade unions to actively recruit them in the same way as they have women and ethnic minorities.
'Corrosive cynicism''Corrosive cynicism'
She will call for a new programme to help people in ordinary jobs to win nominations for elected positions. She called for a new programme to help people in ordinary jobs to win nominations for elected positions.
Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell, Foreign Secretary David Miliband and his brother Ed are among several younger Cabinet ministers to have followed a career path that has included spells as ministerial advisers and think tank researchers.Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell, Foreign Secretary David Miliband and his brother Ed are among several younger Cabinet ministers to have followed a career path that has included spells as ministerial advisers and think tank researchers.
It is a similar story on the Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties, with the leaders of those parties, David Cameron and Nick Clegg, having spent time as advisers to politicians among other jobs.It is a similar story on the Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties, with the leaders of those parties, David Cameron and Nick Clegg, having spent time as advisers to politicians among other jobs.
We are not here to 'add value', or do what politicians want Guido Fawkes blogWe are not here to 'add value', or do what politicians want Guido Fawkes blog
In her Hansard Society speech, Ms Blears will also complain about a "spreading corrosive cynicism" in political discussion. In her Hansard Society speech, Ms Blears also complained about a "spreading corrosive cynicism" in political discussion.
She will turn her fire on political "bloggers" - accusing them of fuelling disengagement by focusing on "unearthing scandals, conspiracies and perceived hypocrisy" and of being written by "people with disdain for the political system and politicians". She turned her fire on political "bloggers" - accusing them of fuelling disengagement by focusing on "unearthing scandals, conspiracies and perceived hypocrisy" and of being written by "people with disdain for the political system and politicians".
"The most popular blogs are right-wing, ranging from the considered Tory views of Iain Dale, to the vicious nihilism of Guido Fawkes," she will say, although she concedes that this could change if there was a Tory government. "The most popular blogs are right-wing, ranging from the considered Tory views of Iain Dale, to the vicious nihilism of Guido Fawkes," she said, while conceding that could change if there was a Tory government.
But she will add: "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." 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."
In response on his blog Guido Fawkes blamed spin, "focus-group derived policies" and partisan positioning for the cynicism described by Ms Blears.In response on his blog Guido Fawkes blamed spin, "focus-group derived policies" and partisan positioning for the cynicism described by Ms Blears.
He added that she misunderstood the relationship between a free press and politicians.He added that she misunderstood the relationship between a free press and politicians.
"Take a memo Ms Blears, we are not here to 'add value', or do what politicians want, Guido has his own values and aims to hit back at political hypocrisy and lies. Politicians make laws, so they should be held to account, to a higher standard," he wrote."Take a memo Ms Blears, we are not here to 'add value', or do what politicians want, Guido has his own values and aims to hit back at political hypocrisy and lies. Politicians make laws, so they should be held to account, to a higher standard," he wrote.