An electrosurgical tool for use in performing surgery on a surgical site, wherein said electrosurgical tool is an electrosurgical pencil comprising: a main body forming a handle for a user, and having a first end forming a front opening and an opposite second end forming an exhaust opening, said main body defining an airflow vent extending from said first end to said second end, said second end of the main body being connectable for fluid communication via flexible tubing to a suction source in order to permit evacuation of surgical smoke and debris; an elongate vent tube mounted in said airflow vent and slidable therein, the position of said vent tube being adjustable in its longitudinal direction from a retracted position to a selected one of a plurality of extended positions where a forward end of the vent tube is located forwards of said first end of said main body, said vent tube being open at its forward end; an elongate electrode suitable for performing electrosurgery mounted in said vent tube; an electrical switch for said tool connectable to an electrical control for the tool; said electrical switch being mounted on said main body; a first metal conducting strip mounted in said vent tube and a second metal conducting strip mounted in said main body and adjacent to said vent tube, the first and second metal conducting strips being in sliding electrical contact with one another and the second metal conducting strip being adapted to electrically connect said first metal conducting strip to said electrical control; characterized in that the elongate electrode is independently slidable within said vent tube, the position of said electrode being adjustable in its longitudinal direction between a retracted position and a selected one of a plurality of extended positions where a forward section of the electrode projects forwards from both the first end of the main body and the forward end of the vent tube, the position of said electrode, being adjustable by pulling on a projecting forward section of the electrode, the first metal conducting strip being in electrical contact with said electrode in any of the plurality of extended positions a main body forming a handle for a user, and having a first end forming a front opening and an opposite second end forming an exhaust opening, said main body defining an airflow vent extending from said first end to said second end, said second end of the main body being connectable for fluid communication via flexible tubing to a suction source in order to permit evacuation of surgical smoke and debris; an elongate vent tube mounted in said airflow vent and slidable therein, the position of said vent tube being adjustable in its longitudinal direction from a retracted position to a selected one of a plurality of extended positions where a forward end of the vent tube is located forwards of said first end of said main body, said vent tube being open at its forward end; an elongate electrode suitable for performing electrosurgery mounted in said vent tube; an electrical switch for said tool connectable to an electrical control for the tool; said electrical switch being mounted on said main body; a first metal conducting strip mounted in said vent tube and a second metal conducting strip mounted in said main body and adjacent to said vent tube, the first and second metal conducting strips being in sliding electrical contact with one another and the second metal conducting strip being adapted to electrically connect said first metal conducting strip to said electrical control; characterized in that the elongate electrode is independently slidable within said vent tube, the position of said electrode being adjustable in its longitudinal direction between a retracted position and a selected one of a plurality of extended positions where a forward section of the electrode projects forwards from both the first end of the main body and the forward end of the vent tube, the position of said electrode, being adjustable by pulling on a projecting forward section of the electrode, the first metal conducting strip being in electrical contact with said electrode in any of the plurality of extended positions