I take it the new Leader of the House of Commons said this with a straight face and without a hint of irony:

“With more dialogue, more communication and more listening from the government I believe we will have better legislation and a more engaged public.”

Hoon, after all, is famous for his selective hearing. He also says, in his why-do-they-hate-us-so lament:

We are also determined to implement the manifesto that the British people elected us to deliver.

You mean 22% of the British people, Geoff. And I’d love to know how many of that 22% actually read the manifesto and knew what they were voting for.

So reading between the lines, Geoff says he wants to listen to us and make us love him again but we can put away our petitions aginst ID cards and electoral reform. If you get a creationist foundation school on your doorstep - tough - but at least Geoff will have heard your misinformed, misguided protests and you’ll respect him for that.