How much does a butler’s uniform cost at John Lewis?

Labour MPs trying to defend the indefensible John Lewis list resorted to pathetic class war attacks last night. Ian Austin, the PM’s bag carrier, reportedly told George Osborne to “F** off you toff”—Austin claims that he actually said “It’s all right for you millionaires.” All of which makes it rather ironic that one of the 33 Labour  ministers who helped block reform of the system was Shaun Woodward who is not short of the odd bob or two to put it mildly.

To be sure, there were Tory MPs who voted for the continuation of the John Lewis list last night but the Tory leadership is on the right side on this issue unlike the government. (Although, it is worrying that Andrew MacKay voted for the status quo.)

Until this expenses farce is resolved, the public will continue to suspect, often unfairly, that MPs are fiddling the system. A new Tory government should, if necessary, be prepared to whip through changes to it.