What do you think is the role of a Government Minister

Mr Cameron, the British Prime Minister, appears to believe that it is the job of ministers to reflect the views of large employers in their sector of responsibility. This is my interpretation of what he told the Leveson Inquiry today.

There has been a lot of discussion about whether deals were done: not as such, I think; or whether the relationship with the media was too close: certainly.

But it is this perception which troubles me most. That a minister should understand the position of those who are important players in their area of responsibility is fair enough: that he should "reflect" those views may be defensible, if what is meant is that in a balanced outline of the reasons for any decision or policy he should be able to explain all the competing views. But Hunt did not meet with the other groups who opposed the BSKyB bid and he met with NI. That being so I think that the PM means exactly what he seems to mean: he perceives a minister as an advocate for companies or other important entities in his area: it follows they are not representatives for the electorate for a man cannot serve two masters.

This is the heart of the problem. There is no need for deals if the role is to advocate for vested interests. Does anyone think that is a proper role for such a person?