"Do you know what it's about? Jealousy.
"I've got a very, very large house. Some people say it looks like Balmoral. It's a merchant's house of the 19th century. It's not particularly attractive, it just does me nicely."
These were the words of the Conservative MP Anthony Steen, as he c
omplained about the public's reaction to revelations about MPs' expenses.
I'm sure I don't have to point out what's wrong with his comments, for which he later apologised.
Steen had spent £90,000 on his second home, much of it on lopping trees in its grounds.
He said he will not stand at the next election.
His outburst was delivered not to his wife, or over a drink with similarly anguished colleagues, but to the BBC.
I'm sure I don't have to point out the folly of that either.
But it's worth considering the views of the most egregiously arrogant of the disgraced MPs, because it gives us an insight into the worst aspects of their culture. And just occasionally, they might have a point.
Steen continued: "Do you know what this reminds me of? An episode of Coronation Street."
If the press, on behalf of an outraged public, keeps piling on the opprobrium, outrage and contempt, it is hardly a surprise when one of the victims (as they no doubt see themselves) of the media campaign, spits back at the public, matching the contempt of the crowd with some contempt of their own.
The whiff of snobbery wafts of Steen's words. Coronation Street, indeed. Of all things tacky, Northern and common.
And don't you love the way he breaks off to lovingly emote over the poshness of his pad?
One is reminded of that joke about the Russian Tsar soaping himself in the bath, who, when warned that 'The Peasants are revolting', responds languidly, 'Yes, I know.'
But Steen is right to identify an element of soap opera about the revelations. There's justified outrage among the public, but prurience too, for which, should this talk of suicides become something more than talk, we will feel at least a little ashamed.
The sins of hubris, greed, and the temptation to milk the system for all its worth, are not exclusive to politicians after all.
And when it comes to voting, we'd be wise to consider the overall merits of each candidate, as well as our outrage over second homes, duck islands, or indeed massage chairs.
I'm hopeful that this crisis will result in change for the positive. The step of forcing MPs to be public about their expenses will be a strong incentive for them to be more responsible and frugal.
I agree that it's a shame they have to be forced. But who really thought that, when it came to the temptation to exploit a lax set of rules, politicians were made of purer stuff than the rest of us?
I hope the crisis will deal another blow to one of the nastier sides of our culture at large - the sort of ostentatious, self-satisfied, snobbish consumerism of which Mr Steen's example is just one of a multitude - both within and without the arena of politics.
awolstenholme@ywng.co.uk
