IT IS not hard to see why the British public is becoming more and more cynical about politics and why voter apathy is on the increase.

The new row stemming from Geoffrey Robinson's book will generate neither light nor heat - nor will it do anything to cause a drop in the price of petrol or raise standards in our schools - but it will for days exercise the minds of our leading politicians.

One side will appear on every radio and television show studiously avoiding the questions put to them, and the other side will shout from the sidelines about sleaze and the need for a full-scale inquiry.

The public will probably never know whether Peter Mandelson asked for a loan from Mr Robinson or whether Mr Robinson offered one. They will probably never know whether Mr Robinson donated to Tony Blair's blind trust funds even though the Prime Minister denies it.

The affair will soon blow over, just like the revitalised Bernie Ecclestone row a couple of weeks ago, leaving the Government a little more tarnished in the public's mind. But given the Conservatives' recent track record and the fact that they are even prepared to entertain Paul Sykes and his £20m, they are unlikely to benefit greatly.

Mr Blair said his greatest task would be to make the Labour Party grow to like Mr Mandelson. He is failing. There are theories that Mr Robinson is doing Gordon Brown's bidding. Mr Mandelson is angling to become Foreign Secretary after the next election; Mr Brown, who has a long history of antipathy towards the Hartlepool MP, doesn't want his territory taken or his prudent stance on the euro altered. Therefore, Mr Mandelson has to be taken down a peg.

If this is true, it is incredible that the Brownites are prepared to damage their party to bolster Mr Brown's personal position. Even if it isn't true, it is extraordinary that Mr Robinson is prepared to settle scores publicly and to sell his book to the Daily Mail, a paper he knows will gleefully use it to damage the Government of which he used to be a member.

In either set of circumstances it would be hard for the public not to conclude that politicians, although they profess loyalty to their party and country, are driven by selfish motivations.

And so the stock of politicians falls further. Cynicism and apathy will be the only winners in this row.

Timely tribute

WE are delighted to be able to report this morning the unveiling of the statue to Wilf Mannion last night. Many believe that the Golden Boy was Middlesbrough's greatest player, and the club has done well in speedily erecting such a fitting tribute. His quick feet and quicksilver touch may be lost to flickering black and white newsreels, but his memory will live on.