'Mistakes were made...'

OK. Maybe I was a bit naïve in my last post. However, as the parliamentary expenses/allowances scandal unfolds, that quote from the history of the Jewish kings sounds all the more poignant: 'no accounting shall be asked from them for the money that is delivered into their hand, for they deal honestly'. And that was at a time when national life had been rock bottom. And we need to remember that there are some MPs who ARE honourable and haven't got on the gravy train. Charging home improvements and making capital gains does give the appearance of publically funded property development, for private gain. I suppose a committee of the great and the good will be assembled to sort out the mess and restore the honour of the House. The truth of course is that honour is not achieved by the creation of systems or the imposition of rules. It's a matter of the heart. It would be a miracle if we were to see a change of heart in the collective body of the House of Commons, but I've little doubt that as a result of the present furore MPs' salaries will be increased.