MPs will be given the right to appeal the expenses claims requested by Sir Thomas Legg, which is fair enough. If the MPs think that what they are being asked to repay is incorrect, they should have the ability to appeal it. But on one condition: if their appeal against the claims fails and that the repayment is deemed “fair and equitable”, they must then repay the money without any further complaining.

If they don’t, it’s nice to see that they’ve been reading this blog (or, more likely, just come up with the idea themselves) as MPs are going to be asked to vote on proposals that will allow Commons authorities to dock the pay of any MP who refuse to repay, just as I said should happen the other day.

We cannot and must not let any MPs get away with no repaying their wrongly claimed expenses. It is our money, not theirs and we want it back. Not only that, but unless this expenses saga is resolved soon, the damage caused to the reputation of politicians amongst the electorate will be nigh-on irreversible – and far far worse than any mere bomb damage.