Letters From A Tory Daily views on British politics and the Conservative Party from a centre-right thinker who writes letters on his blog to politicians, journalists and many others.

Dear Derek Conway,

I am genuinely disheartened by the events of the last 24 hours with regard to your abuse of taxpayers’ money.  Anyone who thought that the Conservatives were immune from scandals of their own was clearly living in a dreamland, but for a senior MP to show such disregard for MP’s expenses and to hand out your financial privileges as if it was pocket money is a truly shameful act.

The only question that needed to be addressed is what punishment fits the crime.  You are apparently facing a 10-day suspension from the Commons, and that’s it.  Well I bet you are quaking in fear at the prospect of being kept out for a few days, and I have no doubt that all the other MPs who are currently shafting the taxpayer are also terrified by the thought of such a crippling admonishment.  I cannot believe this, I really can’t.  You even managed to keep the Tory whip.  I don’t understand what David Cameron is doing, although I’m sure you are absolutely delighted to get away with a small slap on the wrist.  Mr Cameron should have withdrawn the whip, publicly shamed you, and made it clear that you were a whisker away from being kicked out of the Commons for good.

If a verbal warning is the standard punishment for MPs who knowingly and cynically break the rules and neglect their responsibilities as a representative of their constituents in such an overtly deceitful manner, my attitude is: why would MPs not break the rules?  Evidently they have nothing to fear.

Yours in disbelief,

A.Tory