Saying sorry is not enough. Action is required

The Telegraph has a had a field day, even though some of their revelations on MPs expenses will be prove inaccurate.  The damage to politicians of all parties has been done.  The point is, what happens now.

It is all very well Cameron going on television (his intervention must have be planned for days) and saying sorry.  What is now required is action.  My guess is that events will now move rather quickly.

As I have mentioned, the party leaders need to get together and this should happen today.  There is no point one party leader trying to out do the other, although Brown will try.  The second homes issue has not been resolved and must be dealt with urgently.  The party leaders should agree to an interim solution ahead of the Standards Committee report.  This should be transparent and monitored independently.

One matter is already clear and requires little debate.  Any MP who has made any capital gain out of a second home paid for by the taxpayer should be required to repay the full amount.  Indeed, MPs should do this on voluntary basis and this should start immediately.  The parliamentary regulations on CGT should be revoked retrospectively and any tax avoided should also be repaid.

All politicians are damaged.  Parliament is damaged.  As Churchill famously put it, “Action this day”.  Nothing else will do.