The recent furore over expenses has exposed weaknesses in members of Parliament as individuals and particularly in the Speaker - for failing to make sure that Parliament was administered according to standards which most people would consider above reproach. 

That said, all people have weaknesses and we should perhaps be thankful that our political class have those sorts of weaknesses which can be neatly leaked on a disc to The Daily...

Read more: Expenses, accountability and the sovereignty of Parliament

The saga of MPs' expenses shows us the value of independent media in holding our representatives to account. But it certainly doesn't follow that Lord Copper's influence on our politics is wholly benign.

There is clearly an issue with the state of our democracy, and the media surely cannot escape responsibility. The expenses that MPs claimed seem small beer compared to the large sums needed for parties to function in a...

Read more: The Media, Expenses and Expense