I couldn't help but detect a whiff of hypocrisy follow Caroline Flint as she beat a hasty retreat from the Chartered Institute of Housing's annual conference last week.
Crowing about opening communication between councils and the government - telling them "you can speak up for those who really need homes" - she clammed up when confronted with an angry local councillor during question time.
The councillor wanted answers as to why social housing tenants had to stump up £3,000 deposits for homes and raise £800 a month for rent/buy schemes.
But Flint wrapped up the question session, during which she took a mighty four questions, with a terse remark including the line: "You have to make some choices sometimes."
Those choices obviously include avoiding having to answer tricky questions.
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