And why should we care what the poor man’s Jeremy Beadle thinks?

What exactly is this letter going to achieve? Cameron will just ignore it.

If the author wishes to make a point about Cameron’s associates wouldn’t it make more sense to write to the papers? There’s certainly plenty of ammunition – the way offending members Cameron’s inner circle appears to have got of lightly in comparison to back benchers for example. But instead we have this childish attempt at provocation.

Alan Duncan is a fool who abused expenses by claiming for gardening. Nevertheless, he had enough warmth of heart to invite Heydon Prowse for a conciliatory drink. That’s after Prowse had illegally dug up his garden. If the guy had dug up my garden and put it on Youtube, I would have reported him to the police.

Also, Alan Duncan was right, not in his secretly recorded words, but in the sentiment behind them. MPs behaved awfully but they are now being forced to act like naughty scolded children. The amount they earn and the list of things they can legitimately claim for is whittled away by party leaders determined to look toughest on expenses, engaged in a Dutch auction to “cut the cost of politics”. No MP will end up in penury, what has happened is that MPs have lost dignity and become unable to plan their financial affairs properly. Meanwhile the public has a complete lack of faith in politics now. That’s a big shame.

Anyway, I have nothing against political stunts and investigative journalism, but it is wrong to abuse genuine hospitality offered in good grace.

Heydon Prowse comes across as being quite unlikeable.

Conman Cameron, embarrassed again.

Duncan is a buffoon – though his (subsequently censored) book did argue for drug legalisation.

Though I’m not sure what the point of this letter is exactly.

Of course there are no PR spivs in Lab or the LibDems, no sirree.

Is Heydon Prowse a Lib or Lab? I have no idea of his party affiliation – so it’s entirely possible that there are no PR spivs in whatever party he supports/is a member of.

Kate @ 4, oh come now. Alan Duncan obviously deserved to get fired for what he said. He was very clearly caught with his millionaire’s hand in the cookie jar, and to then be indignant about it just preposterous.

You say that it’s terrible about MPs being forced to act like naughty schoolchildren? Well, they shouldn’t have been naughty then, or displayed the judgment of schoolchildren rather than of supposed national leaders, should they? This bit about them being unable to plan their financial affairs is rubbish; I earn a damn sight less than the £60.000 a year they earn, and I still manage to plan my affairs. Getting rid of the most frivolous offences (er, I mean expenses) doesn’t mess with the ability of a parliamentarian to spend money he already has – certainly not millionaire Alan Duncan.

Had it been some poverty stricken miner elected from the Rhondda Valley, I might have agreed with you – but seriously? Mr Oil Magnate Duncan? You must be having a larf.

Dave, I think Alan Duncan is pompous and unfunny – and the way he said what he said was silly. His expenses abuses were very bad. I’m not seeking to excuse them.

When I spoke of not being able to plan finances, I didn’t mean the MPs would end up poor. On the contrary, they are quite well-paid.

I was talking more about the uncertainty than the actual amount. Even people on fairly good wages need to be able to plan their purchases and cashflow. For example, if the Kelly committee got rid of mortgage interest allowance for second homes, and forced MPs to rent, what would those MPs with long mortgages do, and how would they afford the fees involved in moving?

MPs, like the rest of us on uncertain or fluctuating wages (because that what the changing nature of expenses amounts to), can plan for the worst and hope for the best.

Disapointing to see the same people envoke the same tactic of LOOK OVER THERE and duck the issue at hand.

@Dave Semple “Is Heydon Prowse a Lib or Lab?”

Or perhaps – shock, horror – he’s neither?

Indeed, I thought that was the point you were making.

Oh well, straight over the head on that one.

Wow – so quick to jump to insults. You said “whatever party he supports/is a member of”, so you assumed he’s a supporter/member of a party.

I think the point is Guy, the author clearly cares about politics so he must have some affinity to some kind of political party.

Sure – and the point I was making is that many people who care about politics (me, for example) aren’t supporters/members of any of the political parties.

So Guy you have no affiliation to any party and have never voted for anyone?

No, I have voted for different parties/independents at different elections – but that doesn’t make me a partisan.

Look, it’s not a very profound point I know, I just wanted to point out things don’t need to be seen within the prism of party politics.

Which was never what was intended by Dave.

Good grief.

David Cameron will never win the general election – gauranteed
Even the President of the United States appears to be less than willing to engage David Cameron.

In my view it would be a disiater for the british economy and also abroad if David Cameron is elected.

I hope and prey that the votong public do not make the biggest mistake for the past 500 years and elect a conservative government – it would be the end.

David Cameron –

Let me make it clear – I gaurentee it would be a disaster for the British economy if he is elected.

President of United States is not happy with him and I so hope that he does not get in.