Expensive expenses

The recent revelation about MP's expenses has proven to be fertile ground for dismayed journalists working on the middle market tabloids.

One person firmly in the firing line is Home Secretary Jacqui Smith who has found her expenses claims and much more splashed across news pages and intensely scrutinised by commentators and radio hosts of every political persuasion.

The expenses problem centres on trust: our trust in politicians, what they do with our money and are they value for it. The recent focus on, and let's be generous, mistakes in expenses claims does huge reputational damage to political parties and politicians in general.

Last night's channel 4 news carried a robust face-to-face examination of Jacqui Smith's mistakes and she made a reasonable fist of fending off the questions. What she didn't do, which in my book she deserves credit for, is portray herself as a victim.

That her husband watched adult themed films on her expense account is toe-curling in its embarrassment for her and her family. That she's taken the flak for his transgressions is to her credit but I bet she insists on taking charge of the remote control next time they are away.

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