When I wrote the article on MP’s expenses in our last edition the story was only just emerging and we had no idea long the snouts were or just how deep the trough would be. Were in for a surprise on both counts.

The casualty list has been no less impressive than extent of the greed, some simply caught with their fingers in the till, others getting burned trying to manipulate the resulting political fallout to their personal advantage. But that’s what Politicians do, isn’t it?

Michael Martin has resigned as Speaker of the House of Commons and used his farewell speech to criticise MPs over the expenses scandal which led to his downfall. He blamed MPs for failing to introduce the changes to the allowance system that were proposed in 2008.

However, Michael Martin himself opposed these changes, was against Freedom of Information Act and resisted the publication of expenses. So he is largely responsible for his own demise, not to mention being a large, convenient scapegoat for his fellow MPs.

The local MP, Hazel Blears, resigned as Communities Minister after criticising the Prime Minister. She was upset that Gordon had been unkind about her failing to pay capital gains tax even though she had publicly waved a £13,000 cheque she was going to repay after having been caught.

She was wearing a brooch emblazoned with ‘Rocking the Boat’. Well we all know who fell out of the boat, don’t we? Be careful what you wish for.

The MP Caroline Flint was much more pragmatic. She waited until the PM had reshuffled his Cabinet and when she didn’t get the job she felt was her just reward, Caroline wrote a resignation letter accusing Gordon of using his women ministers as “female window dressing”.

She flounced off to her Don Valley where she said on TV: “The reason I resigned was because I did not feel that the Prime Minster had full confidence in my loyalty.” Well Gordon, at least you got that one right!
MPs comments after being challenged on expenses:

Ben Chapman on overclaiming £15,000 on his mortgage; "It is clear that I was mislead by the fees office into the arrangement in question"

Michael Connarty after claiming thousands of pounds for goods for his new second home in London, including a £250 alarm clock and luxury stereo equipment, "Are we only allowed to buy things from the 99p store?"

Douglas Hogg: "I have never claimed for the moat, or for the piano tuning - the allegation that I did is incorrect. I never claimed for these and I never received any money."

Margaret Moran, backbench Labour MP for Luton, who claimed for dry rot treatment at the Southampton home where her husband is based: "I have to have a proper family life and I can't do that unless I share the costs of the Southampton home with him. Any MP has to have a proper family life, they have to have the support of their partner.”

We don’t need YouTube, Gordon, we have the House of Commons for ridiculous displays from those who really should know better.