Blair rejects 'sofa government' claim in final Commons Committee appearance

The Prime Minister told senior MPs he did not recognise the characterisation of his leadership by people such as former Cabinet Secretary Lord Butler.

Lord Butler has criticised a tendency towards decision-making by a small coterie of advisers, claiming that the Cabinet took only one decision during Mr Blair's first eight months.

The Prime Minister acknowledged that some of the criticism might apply to his "first period" in office when Labour felt psychologically that it was still in Opposition.

But, in his final appearance before the Commons Liaison Committee before stepping down next week, Mr Blair insisted it was not true of his entire premiership.

"Over the past years, it just wouldn't be correct to say there isn't a proper functioning Cabinet government," he said.

"I mean, there's - I don't know - 50 different Cabinet committees. I chair only 16 of them.

"All of the major public service reforms we've done in the last few years have been not just through Cabinet committees but Cabinet itself, with detailed discussion on it.

"And I just don't recognise the description." Mr Blair also dismissed any suggestion that previous prime ministers had not held private discussions in No 10.

"I don't believe, having done this job, I am the first prime minister that has also discussed issues with a few people who work closely with me, or with individual Cabinet ministers," he told the committee.

Mr Blair told the committee he had serious reservations about elections to the House of Lords - despite moves to drastically reduce, or even abolish, appointed members of the second chamber.

"I would just say be really cautious about trying to replicate the House of Commons in the House of Lords," he said.

"I don't think that really works.

"I think if we want it to be a proper revising chamber, it's best to be a different type of chamber.

"I understand the tremendous pressure there is because if you ask people should it be elected or non-elected, everyone will always say it should be elected.

"But I think the danger is - and I say this as someone who has had a lot of to-ing and fro-ing with the House of Lords over the years - but I do think we benefit from having people who have not necessarily spent their life in politics who come in with broader experience and so on."

Mr Blair said he had not felt it was for him to stand in the way of a consensus if one could be achieved.

Asked whether he planned to stay in the Commons or join the House of Lords after he quits No 10, he said: "I really don't know. But I am very happy staying as I am for the moment, thank you."