One point, i think needs coming back on here for me. My old boss – similar in so many ways to your friend – used to work all the hours god sent on constituents. Phone calls to council officials, adjournment debates on issues, PMQs – we did the whole shebang.

In the comments, some question whether this was the most effective use of time. Fair enough as success was rarely guaranteed when dealing with all sorts of long standing issues – both in terms of public service and familial failure.

The thing is though that so many constituents really respected my boss for so obviously putting the complaints of constituents first. The most unlikely people would look on you fondly when you told them who you worked for. Some of them wouldn’t have voted for my boss ever but that’s not the point. Young and a bit green at the time it was inspirational. It still is.

You can argue whether it was effective (or, i think unfairly, how much skill it takes to do) but it was a dedication to basic public service that is fundamentally what so many seem to think the expenses scandal has shown us to have lost which is a terrible shame.

I found the discussion frightening. I am concerned about the facts of the expenses scandal but wonder whether it is in the public interest to damage parliamentary government in a wave of media led hysteria. There seemed to be contributors lurking in the wings of the discussion who might be happy to see it replaced.

As a retired paediatrician, I have a sense of déjà-vu. I watched the media hysteria about the mistakes of paediatricians destroy the standing of paediatrics and recruitment to paediatric posts carrying responsibility for child protection – with the inevitable tragic results for children of which they are now complaining.

I agree with your earlier blog that this issue is only one manifestation of a trend which has affected all areas of areas of public life including the media.
Bernard Mason