Watchdog or poodle?

Education secretary David Blunkett may be blind but his insight is certainly undimmed. This much was clear when he cut Margaret Hodge short during Tuesday's education and employment committee hearing. Committee chairwoman Hodge was indulging in a little flattery relating to how much money the secretary of state had already managed to secure for education, but Blunkett was having none of it. "When's the tough question coming, Margaret?" grinned Blunkett. And it did.