Local government has reacted with anger to the MPs expenses row, which has now hit this week's local elections. Councillors expected a record-breaking low turnout after bearing the brunt of voters' anger. Cllr Richard Stay, former deputy leader of Bedfordshire CC, campaigning for the new unitary authority, expressed his shock. He said: ‘Virtually every door we knock on the first comment is, "Where's your second home then?" ‘Having MPs with us is distinctly unhelpful. Clearly, we can't order, insist or force them, but we have indicated that we may have an easier time on the doorstep were they to find other things to do.' Councillors from the three leading parties at Shropshire CC have written to their local press to remind residents their local councillors are ‘honourable', and the local system more ‘transparent', in a bid to encourage people to vote in their local elections. They said: ‘We condemn the behaviour of many of our national MPs, and in doing so, wish to state that we recognise none of this in local politics in Shropshire. In our long years in local government politics in Shropshire, councillors and candidates from our parties have overwhelmingly wanted to do good for their communities.' Efforts by the media to uncover expenses abuse in local government failed. One council chief executive was revealed to have claimed £18.50 in detergent for the town hall's dishwasher. And a survey by the Standards Board for England found 94% of councillors have voted in support of a new code of conduct. Dr Robert Chilton, chair of the board, said the expenses scandal could turn out to be a good thing for councils. He said: ‘These results show local government is leading the way, embracing the high standards of conduct, transparency and accountability that the public has every right to expect. ‘It may be that support for the code and a commitment to ethical standards is growing because members are starting to see the positive effect it has had. It seems that councillors are now embracing the importance of ethical standards more than
