The End of the Honourable Member

...with hardly a pun in sight!

The laying bare of MPs' expense habits has brought about an historic undermining of the esteem in which they have been held by voters. Until now MPs have wallowed in a comfy reverence, in part brought about by the mystique of their jobs and also by the language and pomp of their place of work.

But no longer. The voters now see little honour in the Honourable Member. How, in Heaven's name, can this term survive without doing yet further damage by the comedic drip effect each time it is used? A complete review of parliamentary conduct and behaviour will be needed to salvage some respect from the electorate.

Not all MPs are fraudulent, incompetent or dishonest but all are having to pay with their reputations.

Time was that popularity polls placed estate agents just above traffic wardens and rapists; now it seems that MPs are placed even lower.