Greedy Shame Of Big Daddy

Feb 3 2008 Elaine C. Smith

ANOTHER week, another scandal. This time it's the Tories in the form of Derek Conway and his cash for the weans scam.

Now many a parent is fleeced by their kids these days, as I know to my cost - the clothes, holidays and the general handing out of cash to fund their social lives.

What do we get in return? Well, an occasional thanks and a bi-weekly room tidy or cleaning of the kitchen in our house.

It does feel like they are on the household payroll at times.

But old Derek has taken it a bit far as he was paying sons Henry and Freddie 40 grand a year for doing practically b*****r all.

And it's not even his money, it's OURS!

This whole episode does nothing to enhance our opinion of politicians - particularly those at Westminster.

Both the Scottish and Welsh Parliaments have more stringent rules and it is easier to find out who is cheating the system.

Westminster is still run on the lines of 300 years ago and it is assumed that everyone who enters it is "honourable".

But this outdated set of rules, based on those of an old-style gentlemen's club, has to be modernised.

Most of our MPs are honourable and want to do a good job but in recent weeks we have seen the checks and balances are not there.

The Conway story only broke because of a tip-off to a newspaper - not because the Commons had sussed that this guy was up to no good.

That's because the rules either don't exist or are so outdated that no one is sure what they are.

I don't think there is anything wrong with MPs employing their partners and to ban their families from working with them would just be daft.

No matter who you employ they are not going to be available at 11 at night or 7am to take a call from the press or a constituent in trouble.

MPs need people who will go the extra mile and often that is a partner or other family member. But the process has to be transparent.

They are public servants and we, the public, deserve good service.