MPs' humiliation 'weakens politics'
The "systematic humiliation" of MPs is damaging British democracy, the Archbishop of Canterbury has warned.
Rowan Williams suggested that - after two weeks of embarrassing disclosures about MPs' expenses claims - continued daily revelations were causing irrevocable harm.
He acknowledged the gravity of the scandal and the need for reform, but declared: "Many will now be wondering whether the point has not been adequately made."
He added: "The continuing systematic humiliation of politicians itself threatens to carry a heavy price in terms of our ability to salvage some confidence in our democracy."
His intervention, in an article for The Times, came after Tory MP Nadine Dorries complained that there was now a "McCarthy-style witch-hunt" against MPs.
She was quickly slapped down by Tory leader David Cameron after describing the situation at Westminster as "completely unbearable".
The backbencher warned on her blog there were fears that an MP could commit suicide.
But Mr Cameron said MPs should be more concerned about what their constituents were thinking.
"Of course MPs are concerned about what is happening but, frankly, MPs ought to be concerned about what their constituents think and ought to be worrying about the people who put us where we are," he said.
There was clear anger among the Tory high command at the latest intervention by the outspoken Mid Bedfordshire MP, with one senior source describing her comments as "completely wacky".
