Wantonly profligate

The House of Commons has just passed a Money Resolution authorising the government to spend public funds on a referendum to decide the voting system, by 357 votes to 180. The Commons will now debate the substance of the issue as government moves an amendment to the Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill.

Ironically, the Money Resolution was opposed by Douglas Hogg, the MP who leapt to fame for his extraordinary abuse of parliamentary expenses. He attacked spending any money on giving the public a choice on how they elect MPs, saying it was a wantonly profligate waste of public funds and an act of political cynicism - this from the man who used taxpayers' money to pay for his moat to be cleaned!

He went on to say that the reason the public hold politicians in contempt is because the legislature did not properly hold the executive to account. We would be first to say that the House of Commons should be doing its job a lot better than it is. But we also think that the Commons itself must be accountable to the people if it wishes to regain our respect.

If Douglas Hogg wants to know why MPs have sunk so low in public eyes, he need look no further than his own expense claims. If he wants to do something about it, he should vote for a change when he gets the chance tonight.