Flagrancy of the few tarnishes the majority

Ok, fair enough - Bob Quick had to go following what was an innocent but regrettable mistake when he carried secret papers with sensitive operational details up Downing Street in full view of the waiting media.

It's unfortunate, however, that his boss - Jacqui Smith - didn't have the decency to realise that her recent actions require her resignation too. If this had happened to you or me, we would have surely been sacked!

She says that her expense claims are within the rules. Ok, even if they are, you would have thought she would have the "moral compass" to ask herself whether her constituents would find such expense claims acceptable.

She says that she can look her constituents in the eye and say that she believes she has done a good job - she will have to work very hard as she's defending a majority of 2716 in her Redditch constituency, the lowest majority of any Cabinet minister.

That said, at least Jacqui Smith actually takes up her seat in the House of Commons which is more than can be said for Sinn Fein MPs - who have claimed additional cost allowances and more than £400,000 on London flats from an institution to which they are elected but choose to boycott by not taking up their seats, thereby not serving their constituents' interests.

I'm pleased to hear that if they form the next Government, the Tories will end this abuse of the system and restore the integrity of Parliament.

Those MPs on all sides of the House who operate within their own moral code of acceptability and are dedicated to public service must be seething as the flagrancy of the few tarnishes the good work of the majority. The rules must change!