Given his performance as a buffoon in The Hague last weekend, it was an uncharacteristically sombre John Prescott who stood at the Commons despatch box on Tuesday to present the government's long awaited Rural White Paper. So new Westminster watchers were left thinking what many had suspected all along. Two Jags is not exactly comfortable when it comes to pronouncing on matters rural. Indeed, the guy seated to his left, the eminently more country friendly Nick Brown, would surely have been a better presenter of New Labour's craftily worded, pre-election effort to convince us that it has finally understood the problems of our farmers and the country communities in general. Not that the Tories' response was much better. Their star in the matinee in a half empty Commons was none other than the superior, former Asda boss Archie Norman, now adorning the high level political ranks and, to some at least, seen as a future Tory prime minister. But, just when he had the chance to go for Two Jags' jugular, his tight lipped style was more suited to a cosy session with the Todmorden WI, explaining the intricacies of the Wal-Mart effect on their weekly purchases of Eccles cakes. But we shouldn't be too rude. The 176 page brochure regaling the main features of New Labour's plan to revitalise rural matters signals a welcome step in the right direction for hard-hit country grocers who are being crucified by red tape and competition from the thicker muscled, out of town superstores. But now it's all about government delivery. For, given the Blair administration has made a fine art of promising much, only for the result to lack substance, it's easy to understand store operators' cynicism. Wisely, those wary essential rural service providers are this weekend studying the fine print of the White Paper. Mind you, given Tony Blair has entrusted hospital food to Loyd Grossman, we should be grateful he didn't call in the cast of The Archers to handle countryside issues. Clive Beddall, Editor {{OPINION }}