Shell-shocked MPs count the cost

By Tim Reid
BBC Scotland Westminster reporter

Michael Martin stood down as Speaker

Extra-ordinary. Momentous. Historic. Shocking. All words that have been used to describe events over the past week or two in politics.

Ask an MP or even just glance in their direction and a more appropriate expression to describe the mood would be "shell-shocked".

For, where Guy Fawkes's gunpowder plot failed more than 400 years ago, this unholy scandal has truly sent fireworks in every direction.

No MPs are untouched, not even the ones who have been named "saints" for their expense and allowance claims.

And yes there are some of them, but you wouldn't know it from walking through the Commons.

There are nothing but glum faces around the corridors of power these days.

There are the MPs who have had their expenses forensically examined and who've faced - or have still to face - the wrath of their constituents.

There are those who are petrified, dreading the phone-call or the e-mail alerting them to the next day's exposé by the Daily Telegraph. Those MPs realise there's something in their previous claims about which they are not, now, proud.

And there are those "honourable" members who believe they have done absolutely nothing wrong and who are quietly delighted that they are in the clear. However, even they look unhappy, worried that they are tarred with the same brush and who fear they are still likely to get it in the neck from voters whether they deserve it or not.

Made a scapegoat

Revolution has come to Westminster and reform is rarely a pleasant experience for those who are being reformed, by choice or not.

Michael Martin hoped he'd escape the revolution when he addressed MPs on Monday but the knives were out - the Speaker was blamed by some for failing to reform parliament's systems earlier.

His supporters - when he was forced to step down from the chair on Tuesday - claimed the Glasgow North East MP had been made a scapegoat by the Commons, hounded out by the media.

Indeed, the media is getting the blame for this scandal in some quarters -- from those who are still to accept that claiming for phantom mortgages, duck islands, daughter's homes, moat cleaning, deep fat friers, dog food and hanging baskets isn't really within the spirit of the rules.

Those rules are now on their way out. Good riddance say voters and taxpayers.

As I walked through parliament on Wednesday, shortly after the Speaker announced he was quitting, I met a Scottish MP.

Her eyes were down, she looked as if she was about to burst into tears and she told how this really wasn't worth the immense pressure on her, her family and her friends.

It is no wonder that politicians are caught like rabbits in the headlights

I asked if she was thinking of quitting. But her answer was: "No, I can't. This is my livelihood."

She is one of those who haven't been named, yet at least, by the Telegraph. Maybe she won't be and perhaps she has nothing to worry about.

But there is a huge element of fear around Westminster. No one really knows where this scandal is leading - not the prime minister, not the opposition leaders, not the media.

While voters and some politicians might believe only a general election will restore trust in the UK parliament, there is no guarantee what a new parliament would look like. Full of cranks? Independents? Celebrities? Sleazebusters?

What would a knee-jerk election do to our democracy? No one can tell.

What might be "safe seats" now could be anything but since the whole political landscape has changed at least in the eyes of the voter, if not yet actually on the ground.

And so it is no wonder that politicians are caught like rabbits in the headlights.

At least MPs can take comfort however, from this.

However bad it might seem and however voters eventually treat them at the ballot box, unlike the gunpowder plotters, they won't face execution.

It might just feel like right now.