Week in Westminster - 16/05/2009

The publication of MPs expenses this week has left many “honourable members” feeling very much less honourable than before. Many have been humiliated and some forced to resign. Three back benchers Sarah Teather (Liberal Democrat) Mark Fisher (Labour) and Alistair Burt (Conservative) talk of their reactions to the whole sorry business. The Speaker of the House of Commons Michael Martin has cone under unprecedented attack for his alleged failure to act properly on parliament’s behalf. Is the criticism justified? Richard Shepherd (Conservative) thinks it is, Frank Dobson (Labour) feels it is unfair. Also in the programme: What do MPs actually do? Siobhain MacDonagh (Labour) who has been campaigning on behalf of the Tamil community in her constituency discusses her role as MP with Bernard Jenkin (Conservative). And Andrew Cooper of the polling organisation Populus assesses the current political polls in the light of the expenses crisis.