Yes Minister meets Rising Damp

One of my contributors is complaining that our illustrious Two Homes Secretary is using the rules to line her own pocket when he is a pensioner living on much less than she is claiming for her second home.

This is a very negative way of looking at things and I think we should be grasping the opportunity Jacqui Smith has given the nation to save money.

Has anyone checked, for example, if her sister has any more spare bedrooms in her South London terrace? It might even be worthwhile to pay for a loft conversion or stick an extension on the back so that Gordon and Alastair can move in which will help the jobbing building industry and save on mileage for cabinet meetings.

Then we can either let Nos 10 and 11 Downing Street or flog 'em off for development. Think of all the luxury retirement apartments you could get in there. That in turn will help get the housing market moving.

See, with a bit a positive thinking what might at first seem morally questionable is in fact far reaching policy.