Debbie does Dallas, anyone?

It's understandable that the media have latched onto the "porn film" aspect of Jacqui Smith's latest expenses row (by the way, I'm not sure that "adult content" would really rank as porn for aficionados of the genre). Anyway, that's all really by the by. The basic problem which we should be worried about is that (a) the claim was officially tendered, albeit we are told inadvertently, and (b) it was apparently passed without comment by the people who are supposed to vet expenses claims. It's the system that's rotten and needs overhauling - other than giving the red-tops something to titter about, the actual nature of the claim is immaterial. And it's worth remembering that the current very generous expenses to which MPs are entitled were introduced as a deliberate alternative to increases in basic pay which were considered at the time to be politically unacceptable. Law of unforeseen consequences again!