I look back at the days of the last Conservative government from 1979 â 1997 and was aghast at the âsleazeâ allegations being raised against our right honourables.
In particular, Graham Riddick and David Tredinnick in the "cash for questions" scandal, Jeffrey Archer for perjury, Neil Hamilton for misconduct, and Jonathan Aitken for perjury.
These pale into insignificance when I look at the list of sleaze by this current government.
The alarming aspect is the way in which Labour has manipulated its own sleaze and has attempted to put a veneer of legitimacy on it. This attempt at legitimacy is often in contradiction of facts, and serves on other purpose than to treat the electorate with contempt.
Just one example, from a myriad of others serves to reinforce this point.
December 1998: Is forced to quit Government after details emerge of a secret loan of £373,000 he took from his ministerial colleague Geoffrey Robinson to buy a home in Notting Hill - despite Mr Robinson's business dealings being under investigation by Mr Mandelson's department
October 1999: Is brought back to Government surprisingly quickly by Mr Blair. Is made Northern Ireland Secretary, taking over from Mo Mowlam. Helps negotiations over the creation of Ulster's power-sharing government
January 2001: Is forced to quit for a second time over allegations that he attempted to help with a passport application for the Hinduja brothers, who had sponsored the Dome's "Faith Zone".
June 2001: Is re-elected as Hartlepool MP, declaring himself "a fighter, not a quitter" at the election count. Remains MP for three more years, also becoming a columnist for GQ magazine and chairman of the Policy Network, a left-of-centre think-tank.
November 2004: Returns from political wilderness to take up position of EU Trade Commissioner. Gives up Hartlepool seat for his move to Brussels. Labour's majority slashed from 14,571 to 2,033 at by-election won by Iain Wright.
March 2007: Announces that he will not seek a second term at the EU after the completion of his tenure in 2009, apparently in order to prevent Mr Brown - now expected to soon be prime minister - from removing him.
October 2008: Returns to the Government as Business Secretary under Mr Brown, as it is announced he will be appointed to the House of Lords.
It is no surprise that this current government has the reputation as the filthiest government since Lloyd George.
