Would you trust Clegg on anything?

In the first televised leaders’ debate, Mr Clegg said: “There are MPs who flipped one property to the next, buying property, paid by you, the taxpayer, and then they would do the properties up, paid for by you, and pocket the difference in personal profit.’’

He was referring of course to Conservative and Labour MPs. His own MPs were squeaky clean and hadn't done such terrible deeds. Indeed, Clegg's pitch was that the 'old' parties were riddled with sleaze in contrast to the clean upstanding behaviour of Lib Dem MPs.

Then we had the David Laws revelations and now we have revealed to us the activities of Mr Alexander which, if the Daily Telegraph story is correct, are some of the actions Mr Clegg spoke so disparagingly of in the television debate. People in glasshouses are well advised not to throw stones. What is Clegg going to do now? Having slagged off Labour and Tory MPs is he going to make an exception for Danny boy? And, what is Cameron going to do?

The expenses sleaze stench has been carried into the new House of Commons and it is ironic that it is emanating from the Liberal Democrats who made great play at the general election of their virtuousness, integrity, honesty and transparency.