Election needed to clean up Parliament

The final weeks of this Parliament seem to plumb new depths of the low standards of public service amongst certain MPs.

It is no wonder that public trust has been so damaged by these continuing revelations. It is utterly disgraceful that three former senior Labour Cabinet colleagues of the Prime Minister could have touted themselves around to lobbyists, one even describing himself as a "cab for hire" for the princely sum of up to £5,000 per day.

The Prime Minister should not be dodging a proper investigation just because we are on the eve of a General Election. Former ministers touting for business while serving as MP was outlawed many years ago.

Call me old fashioned, but I went into politics out of a sense of public duty, wanting to put something back into helping others within our community.

I emphatically did not see it, and have not behaved, as though Parliament was some gravy train or get rich scheme.

I work 80-90 hours a week, week in week out, trying to help my constituents and improve the laws that govern this country.

No-one can accuse me of being a part time MP or in it for the money. These senior labour politicians have done yet more untold damage to the long process of restoring trust in British politics.

This General Election needs, above all, to clean up Parliament so we can change politics in this country. There should be no place in Parliament for sleaze or those who dissemble or take their constituents for fools.