Gripped by fear

Alongside the latest, damning revelations – another, ahem, “error” in claiming for interest on an non-existent mortgage – there’s a fascinating article in today’s Times on the current mood inside Parliament.  It sounds very much like a mix of fear and self-loathing – although I suspect the former emotion outweighs the latter, especially as there are seats and votes on the line:

“Until the week-long torrent of revelations, most voters agreed with the statement ‘they’re all as bad as each other’, according to Andrew Cooper, director of Populus. All three main parties are suffering equally, he says, but a new trend is beginning to emerge as voters feel that their long-held suspicions over politicians’ venality are confirmed.

‘There’s a feeling that this crop of MPs need to be punished. If there was an election tomorrow it’s a fair bet that all of the most notable examples of questionable behaviour would lose their seats.