23 APRIL 2005, Page 23

My coinage

From Anthony Barnett

Sir: In his praise for Peter Oborne’s dissection of the Blair court (‘How Blair betrays the Crown’, 9 April), Tim Holman writes, ‘Mr Oborne has coined the excellent phrase “manipulative populism” to describe what is going on’ (Letters, 16 April). In further evidence of his excellence, and even modesty, Peter has kindly asked me to point out that it was I who coined the concept in www.openDemocracy.net.

Anthony Barnett London EC1