Degrees of independence

Anyone else get the feeling the Parliament is just rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic?

This new proposed independent commission, delivery unit, compliance directorate or whatever grand sounding name is eventually nailed on it's door will be fully independent because it will be appointed by . . . Parliament or, to be more accurate, the Government with the usual suspects no doubt already being lined up to head it.

No doubt consultants will be brought in and we will end up paying millions a year in fees to one of the Government's favourite accountancy firms to look after the expenses of just 646 people.

Second homes expenses will be trimmed to a loose imitation of what could be claimed by senior managers and directors in a very generous firm in the private sector and the other £160,000 in allowances, with wives and hubbies on the payroll, will probably be business as usual.

It is the whole system that needs changing, not just the music. For a start it would be nice to see MPs coming from the communities they represent and representing them properly rather than party favourites being dumped on areas they have never even previously visited to bag a cushy job and career move in return for making up party votes in the house.