David Cameron has just popped up on television for the third time in five days to demand more "transparency" (the in-word at Westminster) over MPs' expenses. It is a sign of just how worried the Tories are that the Derek Conway affair will revive the party's image as the kings of sleaze in the public's mind. After Cameron addressed his MPs this morning, he re-announced the plan he disclosed on Friday for Tory frontbenchers to disclose whether they employ relatives, urged backbenchers to follow suit and went a little further by promising that the Opposition would publish the list.
He also had a pop at the Tory MP Sir Nicholas Winterton and his MP wife Ann, who have exploited a loophole in the Commons' housing allowances to buy a Westminster flat, and transferred it to a family trust to which they now pay rent from their expenses. Cameron said all MPs had to justify themselves in the court of public opinion, whatever the rules say.
For the second time, the Tory leader has stolen a march on Gordon Brown. On Friday, the PM had to match his call for greater "transparency" but didn't provide much detail. This afternoon Brown will finally reveal his own proposals. The good news is that all three main party leaders are taking some action ahead of a review of MPs' expenses ordered by the Speaker Michael Martin which - wait for it - is unlikely to report until the autumn. Don't hold your breath for that.
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