Website device proves a real hit

TOM Watson, the former chairman of Wyre Forest Labour party, has been causing a stir at Westminister by trying to lure teens into politics via the "interwebnet".

Initially, the West Brom MP and Kidderminster Harriers fan got plenty of stick for his webpage written exclusively for kids.

With lines such as "cut it with the bling bling and do something for the community, man", it is easy to see why.

But this has brought plenty of free publicity and a huge increase in site hits.

"It's definitely irony," he says. "The kids who have read it get the joke immediately. They realise it is ridiculous.

But, he added: "There is a serious side. I update the weblog every day and it's generating a lot of traffic.

"I'm getting 300 people visiting it every day and there are really positive benefits. I didn't start doing it as an electoral tool, but as a participation tool.

"It's not all good news, however. Hardly any of the hits were from his own constituents.Luff rebuff is cheered

PETER Luff received many pats on the back after gently sticking the boot into the former Lord Chancellor, Derry Irvine.

Lord Irvine - who was retired by Tony Blair in his recent re-shuffle - was not a popular figure on either the Labour or Tory benches, but Peter made his point better than most.

And he was in the ideal position to do so, having served as the ministerial aide to the last Conservative Lord Chancellor, Lord Mackay.

Peter told the Commons: "As someone who had the privilege of working as parliamentary private secretary to Lord Mackay of Clashfern, I find it particularly difficult to accept that the last Lord Chancellor, Lord Irvine, has been particularly effective in ensuring the quality and probity of the judiciary."

He sat down to loud cheers - even if his argument was rather pompously dismissed by junior minister Christopher Leslie as "circuitous".

Mr Leslie said: "It seems easy for Conservative members to take pot-shots at the former Lord Chancellor. Actually, he was responsible for a number of major constitutional advances that I think all MPs ... would recognise and appreciate."

He sat down to no discernible cheers.