When all the pious outrage over our cheating MPs has died down this nation needs to take a look at itself.

How many people finding a till receipt charging 50p for a £50 item would return to correct the mistake?

When bank “holes in the wall” have dished out unrecorded amounts there have been stampedes to take advantage.

How many people would reject a discount for cash?

What happened to: “My word is my bond? How many drivers nudge a car in a car park – and drive off ? Who would not buy shares on a reliable bit of insider information?

The relationship between men and women is at a low ebb because of a depraved entertainment industry, and easily accessed pornography.

Many schools have become hell holes for pupils and teachers alike.

And then there’s the rise of the BNP?

I’ll stop before I become depressed, but it’s in these areas where our ruling classes, whoever they are, have really betrayed us. But we can only evade personal responsibility for so long.

At the root of social evil are ordinary men and women. It’s not correct to justify wrong actions by saying everyone does it.

So our MPs have had their fingers in the till but, as someone once said: “Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone.”

Ron Hurrell
Hadleigh Park Avenue
Benfleet