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Westminster resonates to the sound of doors slamming on empty stables as the party leaders struggle to outdo each other in their firmness in cracking down on MPs' abuse of taxpayers through the allowances and expenses system.
To his credit, David Cameron, the Tory leader, led the way with his ultimatum to members of his shadow cabinet to repay embarrassing claims or face demotion, and his promise that Tory MPs in future would be allowed to claim for mortgage or rent on second homes but not for food or furniture.
The Prime Minister hastily followed suit, announcing that there would be an independent audit of MPs' expenses going back four years. Unfortunately, he may, as in his previous announcement on YouTube, have over-reached himself.
Members of the cross-party members' allowances committee are now saying that they had not agreed to the proposal, only to consider it. Gordon Brown may have to content himself with Labour MPs and ministers refunding their more egregiously unconvincing payments.
The Lib-Dem leader, Nick Clegg, has responded to the publication in the Telegraph today of his MPs' claims by admitting freely that the existing rules "stink; they're rotten, they're rubbish". He wants an end to MPs playing the property market "for personal profit".
Yet, as the public contemplates the claims for chocolate HobNobs from Chris Huhne and for scatter cushions and a king-size bed for Sir Menzies Campbell and the possibility that a flat purchased by one MP was used by his student daughter, the odour of sanctity that had seemed to surround the party, by comparison with the others, has dissipated.
The system plainly needs transparency and simplicity. Boris Johnson has, as Mayor, published details online of both his own and his directors' registers of interests and hospitality exceeding £25 in value; the same goes for everything that the GLA spends over £1,000.
That was change towards greater openness; Westminster has had to be frogmarched in that direction. The answer may well be, as this paper has argued, to give MPs flat-rate pay but more of it, with an extra payment for those living outside London to allow for accommodation costs.
But right now, voters are still angry, and likely to be even angrier if the energy of the authorities is wasted on bringing in police to investigate the whistleblower.
The party leaders' response may help assuage public revulsion but the end result of all this will be to increase the sum of cynicism about politicians and politics in general.
Charles makes up
The Prince of Wales has not quite kissed and made up with architects but his speech to the Royal Institute of British Architects last night was conciliatory in part.
The Prince deprecated the view that he sought a style war between modernism and classicism, though his speech did tend in that direction.
Most people will agree with his condemnation of the demolitions of the 1960s as an "insane Reformation that went too far" - and the truth is, many contemporary architects feel the same.
He will not have won over critics in the profession, who feel he has abused his position to advance his prejudices.
Yet his speech confirms that he has a unique ability to popularise a subject about which the public feels strongly, and which impinges on the lives of all of us.
He is right to suggest that we need an open debate: but that does not mean a debate on terms decided by the Prince of Wales.
Late-night art
Museums and cultural attractions too often close just as most of us finish work. But this weekend it's different.
The events organised by Culture24 include 1940s jitterbugging aboard HMS Belfast, late-night opening at Tate Modern and the chance to contemplate Picassos at midnight in the National Gallery.
If the Nights at the Museum are a success, those participating should look at opening later more often. That way working Londoners as well as tourists can see more of the city's treasures.
Reader views (3)
Ethical governance? We already have a system in place. Those others who serve in public office - County, Town and Parish Councillors - are each and every one required to accept and live by a written Code of Conduct. We already have an effective Standards Board for England, and a skilled Adjudication Panel, which regulates local government affairs.
Is there a good reason why this sound body's remit should not be extended to include Parliamentarians as well?
- Bil Baggins, bath, UK, 14/05/2009 08:51
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It truly is amazing that the majority of people paying taxes, part of which is to fund these establishments, are frustrated @ not being able to enjoy the benefits of visiting them.This is due to the opening times not corresponding with the free time available to those wishing to visit.Surely it is plain common semse that the opening times need some serious adjustment.The problem I believe is one of staffing objections to change,those same people who enjoy the benefits of other industries flexibility,such as entertainment, catering,public transport etc.
- Ronald Whitten, chesterfield derbyshire, 13/05/2009 18:43
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And there was I going to vote for the LibDems! A plague on all your houses even those bought on "expenses"
- Alan, Chigwell.UK, 13/05/2009 10:45
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