Something stinks whether the law has been broken or not

Is it any wonder that people are cynical about politics and politicians? So often we hear interviews with the 'man in the street' who says he won't vote, can't be bothered, they're all the same, just 'in it for themselves'. Then as a counter we have government ministers shaking their head sadly and telling us that people should have more respect for politics and politicians.

Then we get the likes of Lord Taylor of Blackburn, standing up in the House of Lords and admitting that he took up to £120,000 to use his influence to change the law on tax breaks for retailers. He stood up today making his apology 'if he has brought the House into disrepute' with the usual rider that he didn't think any laws had been broken.



IF he has brought the House into disrepute? Is there any doubt about it? Whether he and the other three Labour peers, Lord Moonie, Lord Snape and Lord Truscott actually broke the law of the land, they surely besmirched the concept of public service. These men were ennobled to act as second chamber lawmakers as part of the checks and balances within the parliamentary system. They were not ennobled to line their own pockets by selling their influence...and the topic was discussed by admission whether they actually took the money or not. They considered it. Whether or not the law has actually been broken these people are in a position of trust- and honour (Yes sorry to be old fashioned) to behave in a way which upholds the spirit of their role not just the dotted i technicalities. And surely in the case of these people who would pocket thousands of pounds for selling their influence that sense of honour has surely been dragged through the mud. And I'm sorry to see Labour peers involved in this from whom I somehow expected better.

We are supposed to have registers of outside interests, yet the British system is rotten to the core with people simultaneously holding positions of power in government yet able to use that power for private gain. There needs to be a complete overhaul of this by an independent body. Would I trust politicians to police such a review themselves? Not on my secret list of expenses I wouldn't!