RUSSIAN MPs could be forgiven for thinking the UK was now a one-party state under President Tony Blair.

A delegation from the Russian Parliament, the Duma, met members of the Commons Education Select Committee this week.

A lunch was held in the Jubilee Room, off Westminster Hall, in their honour.

The Russians sent members of seven different political parties. Unfortunately the Tories and Liberal Democrat MPs did not turn up, explains Worcester Labour MP Mike Foster.

So the Russians no doubt left these shores believing New Labour had abolished democracy while it begins to flourish in their country.

The Russians also referred to the British Prime Minister as Comrade Blair and to Mr Lenin".

Draw your own conclusions.

They also pointed out that Lenin used the phrase "education, education, education", so Comrade Blair may shortly face a small plagiarism charge.

The British MPs also struggled to keep up with their visitors' drinking habits.

Not only did they have a series of traditional Russian toasts, but they also celebrated the birthday of one of the delegates with another toast.

I had one glass of wine and then several orange juices, said Mr Foster.

It's fair to say without being disrespectful that the Russians are probably used to consuming more alcohol than we are."

Mr Foster was making polite conversation, in English since he struggles to explain performance-related-pay in Russian, when suddenly his attention was diverted by a quick movement.

I saw a mouse, he explained.

Out of the corner of my eye, out of the fire place and from under a chair ran this mouse.

It alarmed two of the people serving the food.

I gave them a look to say nothing and we carried on. I didn't want to stop proceedings because of a mouse.

Lock will not be

'doing a Hague'

WYRE Forest MP David Lock is off on a ministerial trip to Prague, Bratislava and Brussels shortly.

The Minister in the Lord Chancellor's Department insists the tour is to help to develop the legal framework for admitting more countries into the European Union.

But eagle-eyed hacks could not fail to notice that the trip also seems to take in several of the beer capitals of Europe.

Mr Lock, though, will be getting down to serious work rather than following in the footsteps of 14-pints William Hague.

I'm not much of a drinker," confides the minister.