Three cheers for Bob Russell. He raised exactly the same issue in the Commons at Prime Minister's Question Time on Wednesday. Blair's response was smarmy, flippant and dismissive (surprise, surprise!), making it very clear that he didn't think it of any importance.

Blair's idea of supporting British music goes as far as photo opportunities with pop dross such as the Spice Girls (well, hey, they did sell lots of CDs and make loads of money, didn't they?, so they must be good!) or prancing around pretending to be Mick Jagger.

He ain't interested in English folk traditions because they ain't trendy and they don't make oodles of money.