Trust in politicians in this country has been undermined. Having come into politics after a career in business, I feel this very keenly. It is profoundly worrying.
Our system of government was widely regarded as one of the least corrupt in the world and our politicians were regarded as honourable people serving the public above their own self-interest.
This perception has now been dramatically eroded in the court of public opinion. This will increase the sense of apathy about participating in politics, whether to vote or to stand for election.
Good people will be turned off from the political mainstream. If we are not careful, we will find ourselves left with only the proverbial mad or the bad willing to enter politics. It will be the special advisers who inherit the political parties and then end up governing Britain.
We need to clean up the House of Commons. There should be fewer MPs. paid transparently and at a level comparable to some suitable benchmark, determined by others.
But in the very necessary process of reforming the House of Commons we should take care not to put off able people with distinguished careers behind them, from whatever walk of life, from being prepared to put themselves forward to work there.
Oh and by the way, as the BBC reported, correctly, I am one of the few MPs entitled to claim under the Additional Cost Allowance (which pays the cost of maintaining a second home so we can work in Westminster and our constituency, if outside London) who has not done so since elected in 2005.
