The blood letting begins

Gordon Brown's remarkable announcement that no Labour MP who has 'defied the rules' can stand at the next general election will start an inevitably bitter process of accusation and defence that may be even more unedifying than the drip-feed revelations of the past few weeks.

David Cameron has already announced his own party Scrutiny Panel to examine MPs excessive claims and arrange for repayments. He has said his MPs should face constituency panels that will determine whether their MPs can continue or should face de-selection.

A long process of parliamentary stable cleaning seems to lie ahead, which is likely to put issues of more importance to the average Briton, such as managing the consequences of recession, into the political shade.

Perhaps we will learn that the normal interference of politicians into our daily lives is not as essential as politicians like to believe.