Royal Charter for the press - or actions have consequences

The deal over the establishment of a new press regulator, backed up by Royal Charter, is a good one that ensures that a future government will not wreck this system and allow for continued freedom of the press while punishing those offenders.

There were many offences committed - criminal and moral - by certain elements of the press, who intruded into people's private lives not to expose wrongdoings but to sell newspapers, finally hacking the voice mail of a murdered schoolgirl.

It is those actions that have brought this about - and those papers who complain about it should know they brought it on themselves.

If this new regulator does affect genuine investigative journalism, then that will be a bad thing. However, I doubt that will happen, as most journalism is only interested in investigating tawdry gossip.

Change of Government

Well, 13 years of Labour rule are over. It's made a big impact on British politics, much of it good, some of it bad.

We're back in opposition now and it's probably a good thing. We ran out of steam in the last two years and the recession really finished us off.

Congratulations to Mr. Cameron.

On MPs Expenses

Two posts today- I anticipate at any rate.

It's important to get some perspective on this whole scandal over expense claims of MPs. Certain words are being bandied about, like "fraud", that aren't fully justified.

Firstly, Members of Parliament don't get paid that much. The basic salary of your backbencher is about £65,000. Members of the US House of Representatives earn over £100,000 a year. I don't know what Paul Dacre earns, but I guess it's at least £500,000.

Secondly, it costs considerably more than that to function as a member of Parliament. Some of the key expenditures:

• The rent/mortgage on two residences.
• Travel costs on a weekly basis to places as far away as Scotland.
• The salaries of at least two staff members and probably more, as well as expenses for interns.
• Office hire in your constituency.
• Food costs.
• Feeding yourself and your family.
• Stationery and other office supplies (20,000 leaflets costs a fair chunk of cash)

Thirdly, there has probably been some fraud going on and it should be dealt with. However, most of this stuff isn't fraud, because that would require deception as to the purposes the money was used for. There is no evidence of that in most cases.

Fourthly, MPs do work very hard. Just because Parliament is taking a 12-week recess, it doesn't mean that MPs won't still be working. Even when in session, you can't spend all your time in the Commons Chamber.

Fifthly, there's been far worse cases of corruption, that's for sure. Try Italy.

The system needs complete reform, that's for sure. I propose an increase in basic salaries and an allowance specifically for all office-related stuff. No-one should claim non-essential social stuff on expenses.

Now, let's get this sorted out. We have more important things to deal with.

Time for openness and accountability

It is time that key decision-makers and people of influence reveal their expenses and sources of income.

Mr. Paul Dacre, editor of the Daily Mail, how much do you earn a year?