IT seems a long time since Tony Blair pledged, in the wake of the sleaze which blighted John Major's administration, that his Government had to be whiter than white.

And although he has steadfastly stood by his close friend and political ally, David Blunkett, the Prime Minister must be deeply disappointed to find himself faced with another embarrassing distraction he could well do without.

It is not just about whether Mr Blunkett breached the ministerial code by becoming involved with DNA Bioscience. It is about the fact that he has put himself - and the Government he serves - in a position where persistent accusations of a conflict of interest have to be answered.

Public perception goes to the heart of politics. It defines trust in politicians and, at the moment, trust is at a very low ebb.

Whatever the rules, people believe there is something not right about a politician taking a directorship and buying shares in a company which hopes to win government contracts.

Even if Mr Blunkett was not in the Cabinet at the time, he must have known that his exile was likely to be short-lived given his closeness to the Prime Minister, and his judgement has to be questioned.

With the drip, drip, drip effect of other major and minor controversies, Mr Blunkett has taken over Peter Mandelson's mantle as the accident-prone minister: brilliant yet flawed.

It doesn't help the Government. It doesn't help politics. And, ultimately, it doesn't help democracy.