There's a rather good video of Stephen Fry giving his take on this on the BBC website which I actually find myself agreeing with.

There are around 700 MP's, most of them are going to have claimed something 'ordinary people' would find 'ridiculous' on expenses, and I get the feeling the Daily Telegraph is going to drag this out as long as possible in an effort to sell papers. Frankly, I already find it rather silly, especially as the paper leading this furore is owned by a pair of petty tax-evaders. (Look up the recent elections on the Channel Island of Sark to see what I mean)

It's my understanding that most of what MP's have claimed for isn't illegal under the current rules, and hasn't directly affected the way they do their job. I accept a number of cases with mortgage 'flipping' probably do verge on fraudulent and they should be dealt with, and the rules tweaked to ensure it doesn't happen again. But this sudden hand-wringing about it all is getting a bit tedious. It's as if some people have only just woken up to the fact the Parliamentary Tory party is full of people who actually DO have the money to own moats and chandeliers..