MP Nigel Evans has told Tony Blair to scrap the spin doctors, such as his Director of Communications and Burnley fan Alastair Campbell, and put Parliament back at the centre of British politics.

The Ribble Valley member said the Prime Minister's "presidential arrogance" was damaging Britain and turning voters off.

The Tory Shadow Cabinet Minister said action to return democracy to British politics when he addressed sixth-form pupils at Preston's Cardinal Newman College.

Mr Evans said: "The Prime Minister and his Government have weakened the democracy of Parliament.

"There is a need to cut the number of unelected political advisers such as Alastair Campbell. More statements by the government should be made to Parliament and not to the press first.

"Power must be given back to the people who are elected to the Commons to represent the people.

"It is also up to the political parties to re-invigorate the electorate.

"At the last General Election we had a turnout of only 59 per cent and at the European elections a couple of years ago, it was even worse at 23 per cent.

"This is a crisis for democracy."