MPs' expenses

An addendum to the Guardian's use of crowdsourcing techniques to trawl through the Westminster expenses documents: it's a good idea to double check what your readers think they've discovered for you.

Among the arguments favoured by critics of the Daily Telegraph's revelations about MPs' expenses has been that journalists should have waited for the full details to be published by the House of Commons. It is a good thing we didn't. This morning, with the Common's publication of  expenses claims for the last four years we are able to see just how much has been omitted (or redacted to use the phrase-in-vogue). 

Our fame is spreading. So, sadly, is news about the conduct of our elected legislators. Le Monde asked for comment.

Torin Douglas, the BBC's media correspondent, has been thinking about journalism's reputation in the light of the MPs' expenses scandal. He asked me for my opinion.  You can read his piece and my comments here.   

So funnyman to Middle England, Stephen Fry thinks the scandal of MPs' expenses is no more than a 'journalistic frenzy' does he? Interviewed for Newsnight last night, he practically spat the words and accused people outraged by claims for mending tennis courts, swimming pools and having their wisteria pruned as mere 'bourgeous' preoccupations. Speaker of the House of Commons Michael Martin blamed the media too, a lazy and kneejerk reaction.