ON Monday a visiting Foreign Minister was giving me a polite but hard time as to why our Prime Minister was not able to attend an important international conference being hosted - for the first time - by his country. "All the other P5 heads of government are going", he told me, "so why not Mr Blair?"

As I replied to the visiting Foreign Minister: "I know, but there's one big difference between the other P5 Heads of Government and the British Prime Minister. It's called Parliament. All the other Heads are also Heads of State - Presidents - which means that their duties before their national parliaments or assemblies are small compared to a British Prime Minister."

In Presidential systems - even where he has real political power (as with the other P5 countries) - the President, him or herself, is insulated from day-to-day questioning by the Parliament or media.

Compare that to our system. Some commentators write glibly about the "decline of Parliament", but as it happens Parliament's role in holding government to account has strengthened, not weakened.

For the Prime Minister there's the half hour a week of Prime Minister's Questions where he or she can be asked anything to do with government.

There's a continuing stream of written Parliamentary Questions as well. In addition, the Prime Minister is a constituency Member of Parliament, with its separate duties.

Vive la difference. It's up to each country to settle its own constitutional arrangements. What suits one may not suit another. I tell this story not to seek sympathy for the Prime Minister; he doesn't need it, and what I've said applies to any British Prime Minister.

My point is a different one. It is to illustrate the fact that our system of accountability is much more demanding of its representatives, including its Ministers, than many.

Personally, I think this a good thing. Government belongs to the people, not the other way round.

All elections usually throw up some very amusing situations, or remarks. My favourite so far during this campaign, is Joan Collins (of Dynasty fame) explaining that she was opposed to the euro currency "because it increased the costs of running her house in St. Tropez" - the south of France haunt of film stars.

A Postscript. This week I hosted a reception for the Iraqi national football team. It was great to welcome them here, and wish them luck in the future. I am not sure however, that they need luck on their side having thrashed a team of MPs last week 11-0. By all accounts, my Parliamentary colleagues were lucky to get nil.