Integrity is not just obeying the rules

One of the most frequent complaints about politicians from a disgruntled public is that “they are only in it for themselves”. It is disappointing to see that suspicion apparently confirmed by the actions of two of the hitherto most highly regarded Members of Parliament, Malcolm Rifkind, Conservative MP for Kensington, London, and Jack Straw, Labour MP for Blackburn, Lancashire. They were caught on camera offering their services as “consultants” to a bogus business set up for the purpose by The Daily Telegraph and Channel 4.

Both of them have served as Foreign Secretary, which means they gained influential friends and contacts whom they were proposing to use for the advantage of the bogus company. Both have now been suspended from the party whip while inquiries take place, which means in effect they are temporarily disowned by their parties. Both have denied breaking any rules, which is what the inquiries will investigate.

The public will say that that is not really the point. This is conduct which brings politicians into disrepute. Mr Straw’s defence is better, as he was offering his services only after he left Parliament at the next general election. Mr Rifkind on the other hand chairs one of the most sensitive of all parliamentary committees, that dealing with national security, and yet saw no conflict of interest. He resigned as its chairman this week and announced his withdrawal from Parliament, reversing his earlier intention to stand for re-election. But neither man can any longer claim that their long public service was disinterested, as it is now clear they had every intention of personally profiting from it. And profitable it would have been. Though no deal was done, figures of £5,000 a day, or in Mr Straw’s case £5,000 a speech, were bandied about. They clearly thought they were worth it. Yet their value derives exclusively from their careers as politicians – for which, in an unfortunate slip, Mr Rifkind even forgot he was paid a salary.

These were men of honour who had served the nation; they were tricked; they were within the rules; everybody does it; Parliament needs members with outside experience; MPs are not paid enough … None of these arguments excuses them. Why did their consciences not flash a red light? Had they swallowed the modern heresy that good behaviour just means compliance with the letter of regulations, not the practice of integrity as a virtue that shapes character? Labour’s solution, of piling more rules on top of those already in existence, would complicate something that ought to be made simpler. It is about not being corrupt, in thought, word and deed. It is about trust.

Politicians, like Caesar’s wife, have to be above suspicion. The old adage is still valid – that they should never do anything, however private, that they would not like to see plastered across the front pages. But ultimately it is not the fear of losing their good name that should keep them on the straight and narrow, but their sense of honour. It is a tragedy – and a blow to democracy – that two such distinguished careers should end in such tawdry circumstances.