After the expenses scandal of late, respect for and trust in MPs and politicians of all levels has deteriorated even further. Changes need to be made, that fact is incontrovertible. But what changes?

The first and most obvious one is in regards to MPs expenses themselves. The Kelly Report is a good start with this, even though I disgaree with one or two bits (primarily the complete ban on MPs employing spouses) and think that there are some that should be added. It will take time, but once it is implemented and so long as expenses reports are published regularly, at least the assumption that MPs are in it for what they can get out of it should slowly be reversed.

Whilst normally most people would be very supportive of the idea to give backbench MPs more power, right now it isn’t really the sort of thing most people want to hear about. Trying to take certain powers away from MPs – such as the right to vote on their own pay and expenses – is more fitting with the current public mood. Trust is not something people are currently associating with MPs, however fair or unfair it may be. However, it’s not like this report will actually result in MPs being given more power; none of the others ever have!

However, planning to make MPs sit through August is very much what is needed to start the process of regaining the public’s faith in politicians. MPs need to show a willingness to really get down to work and make a difference to the country; to fix what is broken, including in their own houses.

We are all in this together, and MPs need to show this. Especially considering that, should the Conservatives win the next general election, an emergency budget is highly likely.

Change needs to be both immediate and ongoing. Politicians, of all stripes, need to show that they deserve our respect and earn it back slowly over time by making a concerted effort to fix what is wrong in the political system. Otherwise apathy is inevitably going to rise.