Compare these these two statements. First, in today's Telegraph:
"Thirteen members of the cabinet have been under pressure to apologise over their expenses claims exposed by the Telegraph last week. However, no-one has yet said sorry, insisting that their claims complied with Commons rules"
And today Alan Duncan's comments when questioned about the Telegraph reports:
"I understand why people are angry and they should be. Every MP has to apologise for what has arisen over time."
While David Cameron is saying MPs need to put their hands up and admit the system is not right. And it's good to see that Cheryl Gillan is repaying the dog food, which is clearly the right thing to do.
They say that when things go wrong it's not that they've gone wrong that matters, it's how you deal with it. No-one comes out of this matter looking good. What's gone on is clearly appalling. Yet today the Conservative leadership is dealing with the matter of the expenses in the right way. There is no moaning about being within the rules, there is no "Labour are worse than us" (even though they clearly are). Sorry is what the public want to hear - sorry is the best word. Once again the Conservative leadership has shown itself to be sure footed in highly unstable territory . . . and increasingly fit for Government.
