WE are told that there is a realisation within Government circles that it has come to rely too heavily on spin and presentation. We have yet to see the evidence of any conversion.

Last week, we heard from Labour Party chairman Charles Clarke, attacking the media for 'manufacturing' stories about sleaze and spin.

It is now abundantly clear that his outburst was itself a classic piece of New Labour spin, to deflect attention from the fact that the Prime Minister was forced to withdraw complaints to the Press Complaints Commission that his office had sought a more prominent role at the Queen Mother's funeral.

Yesterday, we heard from Home Secretary David Blunkett, attacking the media for being "almost on the edge of insanity".

One cannot avoid the suspicion that his was a less than subtle attempt to draw Press attention from Cherie Blair's ill-timed comments on the Middle East crisis.

Ministers are mistaken if they think that cynicism of this Government is confined to the media and the chattering classes.

The suspicion that everything this Government does or says may have a spin element behind it is shared by a great many ordinary people in the country.

By and large, the media's attitude to the Government in recent times reflects the attitude of the public.

That perception is of the Government's own making, not the media's fabrication.

It will take some considerable time and some considerable effort to shake off the reputation it has earned.

It will not help the Government's cause by venting its anger on the media. Such a side show will convince no one.

Ministers can make better use of their time by attempting to convince the public that there is much more to this Government than spin, presentation and initiatives.

The way to win over public opinion is to demonstrate the fruits of its much-vaunted investment in public services by delivering, at long last, tangible improvements in our health service and our transport systems.