Expenses investigation to be brought forward

Sky are reporting that the investigation into MPs’ expenses by the Committee on Standards in Public Life is to be brought forward.  It was originally going to publish its findings after the next election, but now they’ll come out before the end of the year.

Of course, to some extent, any effort to deal with the situation should be welcomed.  But, just as with Gordon Brown’s suggestions yesterday, there’s still plenty of room for doubt and cynicism.  Will the committee’s findings change all that much?  Will polticians cooperate with it?  Should things be happening quicker? 

Given Nick Clegg’s claim that he, Gordon Brown and David Cameron could just “sit down tomorrow” and “agree a new set of rules,” you’ve still got to wonder whether there’s the political will to clear up this mess.