Caroline Voaden

I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Mid Dunbartonshire (Susan Murray) for bringing forward this debate. It is strange to become a Member of Parliament for the first time when trust in politicians is at an all-time low. The feeling of antipathy towards MPs from much of the public bears no relation at all to most of the people I have met in this place. Colleagues across the House work extremely hard for their constituents in surgeries, casework, meetings and debates, and in the long quiet hours that nobody sees. As with most things in life, however, there are always a few who ruin it for everyone else, those people who do not care quite so much for the niceties or traditions. I believe that we must ensure that we have the rules and regulations in place to hold those people to account and uphold the values of public service if we are to restore faith and trust in politics. I heard the view of the hon. Member for Harwich and North Essex (Sir Bernard Jenkin) that we need a system that supports Members—although I am not sure that we entirely agree on the need for a flexible system to get around the conflicts of interest that some of us face. If politics is not clean, if politicians are not honest and accountable, and if people cannot trust those whom they send to represent them, then frankly what is the point?