About time

The Independent tells how Question Time went out without a government representative after immigration minister Phil Woolas was ordered to turn down his invitation. The first question was about Woolas' comments at the weekend and he was unable to defend himself.

Tony McNulty, the recently promoted Employment minister, had been offered to the BBC as a substitute for Mr Woolas, but in a show of independence the corporation refused, saying the Government did not have the right to choose who went on the programme.

Well done the BBC for standing up to the government spin machine, for once.