Tom Richmond: Politicians who refuse to play by the rules

Yet they are not alone. Labour have had "non dom" issues of their own courtesy of Lord Paul. They also remain in the pay of the trade unions, as highlighted by Gordon Brown loyalists joining members of the Public and Commercial Services union on the picket lines in a dispute over

cuts to redundancy pay. And the Liberal Democrats' biggest donor

remains Michael Brown, a convicted fraudster.

It led Charles Kennedy, a former Lib Dem leader, to reveal this conclusion: the only solution to these conflicts of interest, and questions of probity resulting from individuals or unions buying influence, is the state funding of political parties.

Who is he trying to kid?

It's not the public's fault that the main parties find themselves totally incapable of looking after their own affairs. It's the

political parties themselves who have chosen to rely upon a small number of elite donors rather than encouraging – and cultivating – grassroots fundraising at a local level. There is a very simple solution to this – and it is that all fundraising is undertaken at a constituency level rather than by Lord Ashcroft, and his like, allocating sums to marginal seats.

The problem, given the MPs' expenses scandal and other scandals, is that the political parties could not be trusted to abide by this principle; all they seem interested in doing is flouting every rule at every opportunity.

And, as such, it explains why the "none of the above" party will win the General Election – thanks to the number of people who abstain. Glib remarks, such as those made by Kennedy, and Tories trying to distance themselves from Ashcroft (having made every use of his largesse) demonstrate that there are few politicians in this country deserving of the electorate's support and trust – especially when they seem intent on fleecing the taxpayers for misjudgments that were not of the public's choosing.

TOP marks, however, to Liberal Democrat front-bencher David Heath for questioning the merit of the Government's countless reports on the future of the rural economy – and the subsequent inaction on the part of Gordon Brown. Last week's report by Dr Stuart Burgess, the Rural Advocate, was a case in point. Highlighting the lack of mobile phone and broadband coverage in rural outposts, he concluded that young people are leaving the countryside in their droves because they see no future there.

"I want to know what happens to these reports once they have gone to the Prime Minister, because I do not hear the Prime Minister talking about rural issues," said Heath. So do we all.

LIKE me, Norman Tebbit – the man who masterminded Margaret Thatcher's historic third election victory in 1987 – is distinctly underwhelmed by the calibre of many Tory candidates hoping to be returned to Westminster in May.

"The sort of people you see in TV advertisements for deodorants," said Lord Tebbit.

Ouch.

NICE to see Margaret Beckett has still not forgiven Gordon Brown for twice removing her from the Cabinet, first as Foreign Secretary and then as Housing Minister.

"It takes something special to be able to call oneself an MP in Her Majesty's Government these days. Sometimes there are some of us who have that extra talent. Something hidden," she said until a member of her audience cried out: "Yeah, secret expenses."

YOU would have thought that acquiring a cat would help to solve the problem of mice in the Palace of Westminster.

It wouldn't even cost the taxpayer a penny – I'm sure the Parliamentary authorities could pick up a stray moggy for free.

Not a bit of it. According to one Lord Brabazon of Tara, who is head of the Lords administration, this is not possible because there would be nothing to stop a cat wandering into the chamber. What he did not say, however, is that he's afraid that the said cat will perform a far more useful purpose than many peers who simply turn up at the Lords to claim their expenses.

ARE there some omens from the world of horse racing about Labour's future leadership prospects?

Gullible Gordon – who I can only assume is named in honour of our dear PM – is a non-runner at next week's Cheltenham Festival, having pulled up and unseated his rider on his two previous outings. Meanwhile, Flash Harriet was a first-flight faller in the opening race at Doncaster last Saturday; precisely the fate that I'd like to see replicated in the political sphere if Harriet Harman gets any more grandiose ideas about her self-importance.

ONCE again, the world of football – that increasingly unprofessional sport – has been tearing itself apart about the issue of goal-line technology after Birmingham's legitimate goal against Portsmouth in the FA Cup quarter-final was disallowed, even though the ball had clearly crossed the line.

This would not be an issue if the players concerned had simply

acknowledged that a goal had been scored. And that is the issue with football per se – a lack of honesty.

GOLFER Tiger Woods must be in trouble for his infidelity when he has to hire a former aide to President George W Bush – as media advisor.