I haven't written anything about the ongoing debacle around the issue of MP's expenses* as it's not really on-topic for this site. We have a relatively narrow focus on civil liberties issues, and I don't want to muddy the waters with unrelated stories. However, reading an article today about one of the journalists who has been working this story for five years now, I found a fantastic quote which sums up so much of the attitude that has underlaid the whole issue since the news started to break, and which is deeply relevant to the issues we normally cover here on Police State UK. As you may have guessed, the quote is that in the title of this article - "Transparency will damage democracy" - and it was said by Andrew Walker - head of the House of Commons Fees Office.

I can only assume that he's using a different definition of democracy from the one that I use.

I think we've seen this attitude, that our political masters know best, showing up a great deal in our government over the last ten or more years - despite their lip-service to the concept of transparent government - and we're likely to see it a great deal more. In fact, I think it's likely to stay with us for exactly as long as they consider themselves our political masters instead of our public servants.

But there is always the hope that this scandal will be the one that breaks public trust in the government so completely that they will realise there is only one way to regain it... they will have to start doing their jobs right. All of them, regardless of their party and the results of the forthcoming election. And by 'doing their jobs right' I mean looking out for the good of the country (instead of their own perks), speaking for and voting in the interests of the people who elected them (instead of the people who buy them the nicest dinners), and generally being an honest and trustworthy representative of the people.

Hey, I can dream.

* Although I've been reading about it with some fascination. I recommend some of the posts on Liberal Conspiracy as a good starting point, there are numerous relevant articles on The Guardian website, and of course it was The Telegraph who originally broke the story.