NEWSNIGHT anchorman Jeremy Paxman was among the crowd who gathered to watch Jack Straw on his soapbox, but preferred, for once, to keep in the background (see picture) and let others fire the questions.

Mr Paxman said he had come to Blackburn town centre on Saturday to watch Home Secretary and Blackburn MP Jack Straw talk to his constituents, as research for a book about politics which he is writing.

He said: "Not many MPs still hold soapbox sessions which is why I'm here to watch Jack Straw. My book is about why people choose to be MPs and get involved in politics, a question which I'm yet to answer.

"I interviewed Jack Straw on Friday night at Angela Eagle's constituency meeting in Wallasey on Merseyside, but I'm staying in the background whilst he's on his soapbox." Mr Straw announced to the crowd in King William Street that, on the eve of the third anniversary of Labour's general election victory, they had kept their policy promises while in power.

He then answered questions for almost an hour from bystanders on a variety of issues, and urged people to vote Labour on May 4.

Afterwards, when asked how he thought his soapbox session went, especially with Jeremy Paxman among the crowd, he said: "I answered questions directly and off the top of my head, although the interrogation and questioning is sometimes like being interviewed by Jeremy Paxman.

"I will continue to hold soapbox sessions in Blackburn because it allows me to reconnect my links with people. I am amazed by the variety of questions, and it gives people the chance to tell me what they want. These people are my employers and my job depends on their support."