MPs are showing contempt in the court of public opinion

AMID all the doubts about Afghanistan, mega-bucks being poured into banks, and the wisdom or otherwise of Stephen Fry rejoining Twitter, MPs may quietly be getting off the hook.

Last week, Sir John Baker, former head of the Senior Salaries Review Body, said what many in high places are thinking: the expenses crackdown may have been a bit… harsh. The way out may not be to argue, but to purge the worst offenders, repay whateve...