Discarded sense

Christopher Graham’s stern warning to the Conservative MP – who has signed a written commitment pledging not to repeat his actions – sends out a message to all MPs that such carelessness will not be tolerated. However it does beg the question what was going through the mind of a Government minister when he decided to dump documents containing constituents’ private details and intelligence information?

Just weeks after Mr Letwin was caught out, his cabinet colleague, Business Secretary Vince Cable, was also forced to apologise after months of material that should have been protected securely was found in transparent recycling bags outside his office. While no one is suggesting that classified information was thrown out in either case, such casual disregard for constituents’ correspondence hardly inspires confidence that MPs are in touch with those who elected them.