For those of us who believe that politicians are not all in it to rip off the taxpayer, these are dispiriting times, because public disgust can only corrode democracy. The result of the next local and European elections will certainly see a combination of low turnout coupled with higher votes for fringe and extreme parties. Voters will express their fury at the MPs' expenses row in the only way they can – through the ballot box. Meanwhile, the process of government becomes increasingly irrelevant. Not only is there the prospect that, come next May, another political party may be in power, in the short term, the Cabinet reshuffle expected next month creates even more uncertainty. That a proposed Bill on empowerment has bitten the dust (see opposite page) comes as little surprise when the Government is unlikely to be around to see it through, judging by current opinion polls. The consequence of this short-termism in Government, coupled with the expenses row, also reduces the legitimacy of the centre when dealing with the rest of the body politic. MPs and ministers are hardly in a position right now to lecture local government or, for that matter, the voluntary sector or business. Their own mandate is looking increasingly unsteady as their limited shelf-life and the drop in their moral authority undermines powers to influence and cajole. This places local government in an unusual position as the only other elected part of governance not to have been caught up in the general public fury at its elected representatives. True, council chief executives have been in the firing line over salaries, but no-one has yet accused them of being economical with HM Revenue and Customs, or placing toilet seats on expenses. And councillors, normally slated over their allowances, have had a pretty calm year, so far. The public disgust over MPs' expenses will take a long time to abate. And while it is certainly ill-advised for councillors and council leaders to enjoy schadenfreude, there is, nonetheless, a hole in the body politic as a result of the disclosures, which they should be ready to fill. Michael Burton, Editor, The MJ
