3 MARCH 2007, Page 24

Don’t blame the website

From Malcolm Gooderham

Sir: Your leading article of 24 February misses a fundamental point. Notably, the epetition initiative has helped to breathe new life into the body politic, and has put No. 10 at the heart of key debates and in touch with millions of voters. The fact that ministers and officials at the Department of Transport were unprepared for such a response is also worth noting, but does not undermine the thinking behind the website. Rather, it highlights a failure on behalf of the ministry adequately to manage — and pre-empt — such a public reaction. For MPs, or anyone else, to blame a website really misses the point.

Malcolm Gooderham Political adviser to No. 10, 1995–97 London W11