The mass wipe-out of Tory MPs in 1997, replaced by a large influx of young Labour women, has contributed to this. A minor consequence has been fewer by-elections caused by death in service during the last two parliaments. But it is especially important, given the increasing millions who are now retired, that they are adequately represented. And there is something about the cantankerous, pensioner-age MP, who cannot be browbeaten with threats of not being made a minister, that makes them the vital grit in the democratic process.I dread the day dawning when a Dennis Skinner, a Tam Dalyell, an Austin Mitchell, a Gwyneth Dunwoody or a Gerald Kaufman is persuaded to put away their election rosettes. Certainly most of their constituents take this view which, thankfully, seems to be shared by their local constituency parties – if not necessarily by the party headquarters. Only their families should have the final veto on the decision – although I was heartened when Austin Mitchell’s wife, Linda McDougall, assured me that she did not want him tripping over her at home.Yesterday’s Independent obituary of Sir Paul Hawkins, who died at the weekend, aged 90, makes the case for MPs beyond formal retirement age continuing well into their 70s. Sir Paul was a Norfolk Tory livestock auctioneer who did not become an MP until he was over 50.

He was there, steady as a rock when I arrived in 1979 and did not stand down until the 1987 election, aged 75, when Gillian Shephard succeeded him. When the going got sticky during some of the Thatcher years, his voice – certainly behind the scenes in the Smoking Room – counted with chief whips and ministers as much as any speech made by some MPs in the chamber.Our obituary noted the comments by the former cabinet minister, John Gummer, that Sir Paul brought a depth of understanding about matters such as Europe which were shaped by his prisoner-of-war experiences.Similarly, Tory MPs who have served in previous governments and now do not expect to see a ministerial limousine again should nevertheless resist any subtle blandishments to be kicked upstairs to the House of Lords. In the past, it was the norm for a former Tory cabinet minister to expect to continue public service in the upper house, but Mr Blair’s new system of nomination seems to have put paid to this while the debate on Lords reform drags on. So the likes of Gummer, Shephard and Mawhinney – mere striplings anyway, barely into their sixties – should not be allowed to contemplate retirement from the Commons.Mrs Shephard is a classic example of one whom, having achieved a 7 per cent swing in her favour at the last general election, proves that many MPs improve with age – and certainly do so in the eyes of their constituents.One of the most impressive and unseen sides of the old system of late nights which required MPs to stick to each other like glue, socially, was the exchange of anecdotal information about the state of the respective parties as perceived by constituents. The new routine is certainly desirable from the perspective of the needs of the general public and modern media, and Parliament should gain by better coverage of its proceedings.

But MPs should still recognise the benefits of the old club atmosphere that has been responsible for forging many cross-party friendships and cross-party political alliances that are vital in debates on issues as diverse as foxhunting, Europe and House of Lords reform.It would be a shame if the only place in Parliament, at night, where rivals continue to argue and chew the political fat is in the Press Bar rather than in the Members’ Smoking Room.mrbrown pimlico.freeserve.co.uk. Not everyone can have appreciated a break for Christmas. After a few days of singing about peace in honour of the baby Jesus, it must be a relief for Christians such as Blair and Bush to get back to planning how to obliterate the region the poor sod lived in. Which is why this paper could report yesterday that “Alarm is growing in London and Washington because the work by inspectors has failed to pick up any prohibited weapons activity.”

Not everyone can have appreciated a break for Christmas. It means the rulers of London and Washington are more desperate than anyone that Saddam has deadly weapons.