Maria Miller has resigned after relentless pressure from the Tory machine. Dave praised her competence which, being interpreted, meant that he was grateful for all her support with the homosexual marriage Bill. Well, now she’s gone and the Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mail are jubilant.

The controversy over MPs’ expenses will not die down though and there is renewed talk about how they should be regulated. This is to miss the point. I don’t care whether they are self-regulated or they appoint some external umpires to do the job. It will amount to the same and those who want to bend the rules will always find ways of bending the rules. The truly shocking realisation is that so many of our political representatives have proved themselves to be dishonest and untrustworthy. This should not be. But my friends tell me I shouldn’t be surprised. they say there’s no public morality left and the prevailing  ambition is just to look after number one, by fair means or foul. I suppose I must belatedly grow up and get used to the idea that people are no longer guided in their conduct by what they were taught in Sunday School. A shame. Besides, I think that getting used to the present public squalor is as bad if not worse than the squalor itself.

One thing will prove inescapable: the public will punish MPs at the election. However, this is scant consolation because they will punish them all indiscriminately, without regard for this party or that. And so, even if MPS will be elected by ever-decreasing numbers of voters, they will still get themselves elected.

That, you might say, is the trouble. We are governed by a corrupt and self-serving political class. They say the people get the government they deserve. That is our true darkness.