This week this column presents itself under a new guise. Will it be permanent? Who knows? But let me set the scene.

As you know, our Prime Minister has made much of having listened to the people during the General Election campaign. Presumably he wants to go on listening. Since his constituency is at the heart of the region served by The Northern Echo, it might be safely assumed that this esteemed newspaper has the close ear of the Prime Minister.

What better place, therefore, for a slot dedicated to keeping the PM up to speed on the public's views and feelings? Well, here it is. Its title? Ear Piece: Tony's Blair's Listen and Learn Corner.

Ready, Tony? Let's start with the General Election. What was its purpose? To elect a government - i.e. select those who will govern us. So it was rather naughty of you, Tony, to be no sooner back in No 10 than you gave a peerage to a member of your inner circle, former advisor Andrew Adonis, so you could appoint him junior Education Minister.

No-one should sit in Government who hasn't faced the electorate. Basic to democracy, that really is a very simple lesson, Tony.

Of course, by now, the House of Lords should have been history anyway. But, hard on the heels of your elevation of Andrew Adonis, you have appointed no fewer than 16 former Labour MPs as life peers. This suggests a big need to listen and learn.

Most of the 16, including your neighbouring MP, Derek Foster, have had long Parliamentary careers. They chose to quit. Their instant transfer to the comfortable club of the House of Lords doesn't play well with the public, who see them as spent forces benefiting from an old pals' act. Away with them.

Meanwhile, we have David Blunkett. His quick repatriation after a token spell in the sin bin does nothing to straighten out your nose-diving reputation, Tony. We don't warm to Blunkett. Can you blame us when, within minutes of resuming office, he tells us that, at the end of a working life, we can't expect the state to "dig us out of poverty''.

Never mind that Labour pioneers had a different vision. Would Blunkett have issued his "save or starve" warning on the eve of the General Election? Of course not. This is what breeds cynicism, Tony, especially in the context of the gold-plated part public-funded pensions enjoyed by MPs and Ministers.

One rule for them, one rule for us is bad, Tony. Since you yourself are required to pay nothing towards your Prime Minister's annual pension of half your salary, payable instantly on leaving office, we don't think it unreasonable to demand similar state-funded security in our old age.

Well, this week's Listen and Learn Corner is just about filled up. On a weekly basis it might get boring. So here, courtesy of my wife, is an alternative idea. Each week you have an audience with the Queen. Why not match it with a meeting with a citizen, selected at random from a list of individuals who would like to talk to you. Bosses of big business and others already close to No 10 excluded.

A weekly one-to-one down at the grassroots - the key date in your diary. It might work a miracle, like a Labour fourth term.