Politicians in Wonderland

The general public may, perhaps, be forgiven for believing that politicians live in a wonderland of their own.

From the outside looking in, it appears as if there are laws that apply to the vast majority of the population but a slightly different set of rules when it comes to considering the conduct of politicians.

Certainly, the word “dishonesty” seems to take on a whole new meaning if it is alleged against a politician.

If you think that generalisation is a little unfair, consider the events of recent months and weeks and the expenses scandals that have been revealed. It is, of course, unfair on the very many completely honest Members of Parliament and Members of the House of Lords. But how can members of the public tell the difference between them.

The latest fiasco, of course, concerns a junior government minister who the Parliamentary Standards’ Commissioner ordered to pay back many thousands of pounds in over-claimed allowances for a London house. It is right to say that the House of Commons Standards Committee overruled that decision and ordered the repayment of a significantly lesser sum together with an apology for the minister’s attitude during the Commisioner’s Inquiry.

An online petition, which at the present time calls for the full amount to be repaid or a resignation from the minister concerned has, at the time of writing gained 150,000 signatures.

The Prime Minister supports the junior minister. Speaking on the Andrew Marr Show, Work & Pensions Secretary, Ian Duncan Smith appeared to suggest that there was a backlash against the minister because of the very good work she had undertaken with the Leveson Inquiry (into the conduct of the press) as well as the work she had done in connection with gay marriage. He thought there was a risk that this was developing into a witch hunt.

All this comes before European elections towards the end of May 2014 and a general election scheduled for 7 May 2015 unless there is a government collapse in the meantime or two thirds of MPs vote for an early election.

The attitude of the general public will no doubt be reflected in those elections: probably in the low turnouts rather than for whom they vote because the brush is beginning to tar all politicians similarly.

Then we may be faced with a government that represents just a very few. We have only to look around the world to see the consequences which might flow from such an unfortunate situation.

If our current system of government is to survive into the foreseeable future, it is time that the parties put their houses in order and each demonstrated that they are honest, reliable and fair.

That does not require spin; it needs leadership and an ability to demand resignations and stamp out misconduct the moment it arises.