Letter to the YEP; Cameron’s reforms only skin deep

Four Conservative PPC’s published a letter in the Yorkshire Evening Post (May 21st) insisting that the only way to clean-up politics was to elect a Conservative government. However, while David Cameron has made loud reforming noises we have to question how serious the Conservative Party is as a whole is about reform. The Times (May 20th) reports;
 

“David Cameron’s call for the de-selection of Tory MPs caught up in the expenses scandal is being ignored by local parties.
 
A survey of constituency chairmen and agents by The Times found that almost all are standing by their discredited MPs, in spite of the party leader’s attempt to respond to public anger.”
 

When we have seen Conservative MP’s claim for duck houses and moat cleaning is this really appropriate?
 
Furthermore, it should be noted that up until this point Mr Cameron has marshaled his Parliamentary party in opposition to any serious reforms of the expenses system. This is something worth remembering whenever he is on TV talking about his ‘anger’ and ‘disgust’ at the latest round of outrageous revelations. Electing a Conservative government is not a panacea for all the ills of our political system and while it is right that the people have their say in the form of an election it would be good to remember that there have been no sweeping proposals forthcoming from the Conservatives regarding the serious constitutional change that needs to occur to “fix our shattered system”. 
 
Saying ‘we are the good guys and will play by the rules’ is nowhere near enough and it is highly disingenuous of these PPC’s to pretend otherwise. 
 
Darrell Goodliffe