Where has our moral backbone gone?

The Press is possibly making too much of the "scandal" surrounding Tony McNulty's claim for second home allowances, but the issue is not about whether the Minister broke the rules. (It appears that he did not). What has happened to MPs' sense of propriety? Where is their moral backbone? It is clear to anyone posed the question "is it right to claim second home allowance only twelve miles from Westminster, and for a home owned and lived in by my parents?", that the answer is no.

It looks obvious to me that Mr McNulty had second thoughts when the Home Secretary got herself into political hot water in similar circumstances, but he has moved too late.

The Opposition would make more of this, but sadly this misuse of the expenses rules is a cross-party matter.