Brown still doesn’t get it

Pathetic. I’ve just read Gordon Brown’s article in tomorrow’s News of the World. He still doesn’t get it. He has nothing new to say. He apologises for all parties and says that outer London MPs won’t be able to claim the second home allowance and that’s about it.

Oh, he says that anyone who has abused the rules will not be able to serve in his government – but that misses the main point. It is not that MPs have defied the rules – we have been told all week that everything they’ve done has been within the rules – it is the rules themselves that people think stink.

Brown is a good week behind public opinion. His statement may have worked if he’d provided it last week. But today, public opinion has moved on. It is now demanding that all of those that have abused the system should be sacked as MPs. They are demanding a General Election immediately and want to sweep away crooked MPs.

Brown’s article doesn’t get anywhere near articulating the mood of the country. Neither does it set out a programme of action which could start to heal the chasm that has opened up between the public and our ruling class. Brown’s article is so dreadful, I have decided to publish it in full.

I AM appalled and angered by this week's revelations.

Appalled because at all times people should expect the highest standards from people in public life.

Angered because I was brought up to believe you did the right thing - and that trust, integrity and honesty are the most precious assets of all.

And for all those striving hard in these difficult times to do the best for their families, working long hours to give a better life for their children and to improve our public services and communities I apologise - on behalf of all parties - that the political system has let you and the public down.

I want to assure every citizen of my commitment to a complete clean-up of the system. Wherever and whenever immediate disciplinary action is required I will take it.

The bottom line is that any MP who is found to have defied the rules will not be serving in my government.

The action must be swift and comprehensive. On the whole politicians do work hard for people but MPs who have abused the expenses system will have to make reparations for the past. I have called for independent scrutiny for every claim made over the last four years and an independent means of deciding how much should be paid back.

Westminster cannot operate like a gentleman's club where MPs or parties alone decide themselves whether your money should be paid back.

It is absolutely right that each MP will need to justify to the public, not just the authorities or their party, the money they have spent on allowances.

Transparency to the public is the foundation of properly policing this system.
I am under no illusions that repayment will not necessarily be sufficient sanction.

Unacceptable behaviour will be investigated and disciplined. I do not rule out any sanction.

But for the future we need even more fundamental change. Already I have asked Parliament to ensure - and MPs have agreed - that outer London MPs cannot claim a second home allowance.

MPs should not themselves come up with the future system that should govern their allowances. Therefore we are agreed that the Committee of Standards in Public Life should come forward with much needed reforms.

It is clear that the revelations of the past week will have a lasting impact on our politics.

As well as righting wrongs and cleaning up the system, there is now a clear need to go much further, as we start the process of rebuilding trust in our political system.

We must all now come together to make that happen.