The continued exposure of a political class with its system of rules and expenses has publicised a wide gulf between legislator and legislated. Although the continual series of innuendo will run for a few more days, attention should turn to the actions required for change. A clear-out of the class is required. Those who are most guilt of egregious troughing should be forced to resign. A good test is whether they are forced to pay taxes with interest.
Some should go anyway: the Speaker, Labour's Whips and Sir Stuart Bell, and the Tory grandees:
...Sir Stuart Bell, Labour's representative on the committee that runs the Commons, wanted to push through a plan to privatise the "fees office" because he believed it would shield receipts from the Freedom of Information Act.
Sir Stuart's plan is understood to have the backing of the Labour whips, who detest the release of expense data. But it was described by a Commons source as "barmy and wrongheaded" and based on a misunderstanding of freedom of information rules.
The ancien regime still assumed that they could defend their abuses, mounting a rearguard action after the open barndoor let the sunshine in.
Now would be the best time to call a General Election and remove this tainted Parliament; that is unlikely to happen under the final months of New Labour. However, the appalling behaviour of the present crowd gives us time to consider the role of Parliament and present an appropriate set of constitutional changes. With appropriate safeguards, recall elections could be introduced. The powers of the Whips need to be diluted or abolished and some thought should be given to the separation of legislature and executive. Other ideas have been mooted such as the Departmental Select Committees voting on that department's budget. Greater oversight and accountability must be the watchwords, accompanied by more devolution and an English Parliament.
It is time for constitutional change and parliamentary reform of a radical bent that provides channels for the electorate to visibly curb abuse and punish the wicked grubs who have besmirched the reputation of the House.