Members of Parliament have an important role in society. They are, in fact, the very guardians of society. They have been elected to look after our interests in respect of our laws, our borders, our relationships with other countries, our compassion for less well off members of our communities, our defence, our economic well-being and countless other tasks.
Much of this they do diligently. We trust them to make important decisions of our behalf, and we pay them quite well for their time. We also recognise that the job can mean having to have a second home in order that they can do their jobs in Westminster as well as their jobs in their constituencies. It is fair and just that additional expenses incurred in having to have a second home should be recompensed.
But as we have put MPs in a position of trust to look after our interests, they must also recognise that we have an interest in making sure that their claims are fair and just. No one wants our MPs to be out of pocket; neither do we want them to take us for a ride.
The current row over expenses does no political party credit. The Cabinet might be under scrutiny at the moment, but abuses have gone on for years and no party has raised its head above the parapet and said these abuses must stop.
There seems to be a culture in Westminster of ‘it’s within the rules so it’s OK’. But we elect them to make rules for us – and for themselves. If we cannot trust them to make and police their own rules, can we really trust them with ours?
When Commons committees questions others about morals, actions, decisions and policies, do they forget that there are clouds hanging over their own morals, actions, decisions and policies?
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? Who guards the guardians? That phrase was coined by the Roman poet Juvenal getting on for 1800 years ago. He was writing about enforcing morals on women, and since then it has been used to describe dictatorships and other forms of bad government.
It also seems to apply to the House of Commons in 2009.
Fortunately we have the British media, old and new, to keep us in check…. This was out on twitter last night before I even saw the news. Has – gasp – the media become our moral guardians (fortunately – the answer – I think – is no! Lets find out where the “leak”came from eh!)?