NIGEL EVANS MP, the former Deputy Speaker, makes the outrageous claim that because he has been cleared in a court of law of sexual offences that the Crown Prosecution Service should pay his legal costs (Echo, Apr 14).

He may very well have been cleared of serious sexual offences but his admissions established that he had bought much misfortune upon himself, by acting as a drunken libertine around the subsidised bars of Westminster.

A little humility and gratitude would not be amiss and I’m sure if he went on the wagon he’d soon clear his legal fees. The sense of entitlement of our political leaders is surpassed only by their lack of perspicacity.

VJ Connor, Bishop Auckland.