MP Expenses - The Timing

Great to see Nick Robinson caught cold outside Westminster late in the evening as the Telegraph expenses story was breaking. No time for spin, just the story.

Given time now look what happens. The government reaction so far consist of feign responses of "it's allowed by the rules" and calls to investigate the leak that led to the Telegraph's possession of the expenses list.

If it's a leak then it confirms what is on there to be true. Pursuing legal action down that dangerous road can't be a good idea. But then that is the ludicrously weak Phil Woolas who got led around by Joanna Lumley a couple of days ago. Hard to take him seriously any more. Although it does explain why nappies were on the receipt.

So, it's early May and the list is alive, full and piece by piece being entered into the public domain. When were the Commons going to publish the list (after blanking some key details)? July. After the local and European elections. For a bunch that think nothing is wrong with what they are doing, they have made a hell of an effort to stop the public judging for themselves.