Mark Harper has brought back the concept of honourable resignation

Compare and contrast. We have Chris Smith, chairman of the Environment Agency, whose shortcomings can now be seen covering 23,000 acres of Somerset. And yet, when visiting yesterday, he did not say sorry (the word he used instead was ‘proud’). He says he sees no reason for him to resign, even when it is clear that the failures he has overseen have led to a spectacular catastrophe (we call for his resignation in this week’s Spectator).

Exhibit B is Mark Harper, who has just quit as immigration minister because he failed to spot that his cleaner had lied about having permission to work in Britain. She went to far as to produce papers saying she had indefinite leave to remain.  He obeyed the law, it doesn’t (as he said in his letter) expect employers to spot anything other than an obvious forgery.