Sacking delay shameful

Feb 1 2008 By Maureen Messent

WHY the delay from David Cameron in dispensing with the services of Derek Conway, the long-serving Tory MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup?

And how deep must be the embarrassment of that Cameron spokesman who announced the Whip would not be withdrawn and the proper punishment administered to Old Fatty Chops.

That was Tuesday morning. By Tuesday night the perfidy of Conway in paying his two student sons for their non-existent clerical duties at Westminster had been revealed.

He's got the chop. He won't stand for election again. His career - and he was mentioned as a future Speaker - is in ruins, although, like many Tories, he's doubtless even now immersing his sticky fingers in other pies.

Peter Hain looked good beside him because he forgot to disclose donations, a mere bagatelle in comparison with Conway's act. The latter helped himself, then told the House: "I'm sorry for my administrative shortcomings."

We never use the lovely words "bounder" and "cad" these days, do we? But how apt are both when applied to this self-serving man.

If miscreants from a council estate were to fiddle their welfare payments to the tune of £374,410, they'd find themselves in the dock and in headlines round the world.

He cannot be allowed to get away with this - more so because, deep down, we feel that the majority at Westminster are fiddlers and Conway's being found out was merely misfortune.