For Foulke's Sake

Baron 'George' Foulkes of Cumnock took to the airwaves and TV studios today to mount some vague and bitter defence of his old pal Speaker Martin and launch a pointless counter attack on the media over the expenses farrago.
It was probably his own idea; Foulkes captures the grubby, back-biting side of politics which the Government would not have chosen to have representing them at this difficult time. He began by berating Norman Baker MP on Radio 4 as if the general promise to 'fix the system' was sufficient to suppress all dissent.
His performance on BBC 24 a few minutes later, should have had No.10 comms unit on his mobile (if he has one) telling Foulkes to cease this media charade forthwith. When BBC newscaster, Carrie Gracie asked if MPs should pay some money back, all he could do was to turn his spiteful anger on her in a wholly 'ad feminam' manner'.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8045414.stm

Foulkes, still an MSP, has become a figure of fun north of the border. When a blogger started putting obviously spoof entries up about him, his reaction was to report the matter to the police. Not sure if the Constabulary in Ayrshire has a Blog Squad just yet.

Foulkes's manner is irksome at the best of times but his timing is atrocious. We are not pulling out of the worst of this scandal-of-scandals yet. If anything today's revelations are the worst so far. From the long list of staggering claims; Douglas Hogg had his moat cleared; James Arbuthnot had his swimming pool cleaned; Michael Spicer was paid for a chandelier to be installed, his claim for a Christmas tree was turned down.

But it's not all Conservatives. One exchange of correspodence with the Fees Office demonstrates the mental straight-jacket MPs got into over their entitlements. Labour's Tom Harris had £140 claim for baby equipment correctly refused, he responded testily, "perhaps you might be good enough to write to me explaining where my son should sleep next time he visits me in London." It obviously never entered his head that he might shell out the dosh for his son himself.

We are now at Day 5 and it is pretty gruelling at times just taking it all in. So far the focus has been on 50-60 frontbenchers and grandees. There are hundreds more excrutiating details to come from bankbenchers of all parties. Apologies have been forthcoming at least but no promise to pay anything significant back. All it would take would be one big act of remorse (millionaire Shaun Woodward's £100,000 mortgage payments would be a start) and the rest would be compelled to follow suit. So get on with it.