Mr Loughton made the comments to MPs on the Education Select Committee, where he appeared alongside two other ministers from the department who also lost their jobs in a reshuffle in September.

BBC: Education & Family

In fact, she attributes the change to the increased profile and effectiveness of select committees in recent years - where the atmosphere of forensic investigation is radically different from the crucible of the Commons.

BBC: Do we really hate MPs getting rowdy?

This is where the politics gets interesting - once upon a time governments could simply bin unwelcome recommendations from select committees (or Commissions), but in a hung parliament, and with no government majority in the House of Lords, that may prove not to be an option.

BBC: Week ahead in committees