THE public must scratch their heads wondering how MPs of all parties could genuinely believe they were doing no wrong in their bacchanalian orgy of expenses claims, particularly when most wage earners are feeling the grasp of the recession.

It has particularly riled me to hear the comments of Tory MP Nadine Dorries, who claimed that MPs were subject to a McCarthy-style witch-hunt as a result of The Daily Telegraph’s brave stance in exposing these scoundrels for what they are.

MPs wanted the public to know nothing of the range of their legalised fiddling and now that they are caught out, they cry persecution – how pathetic.

I applaud Tory leader David Cameron for showing strong and determined leadership in ousting the bad apples in his party. Poor old Prime Minister Gordon Brown decries Hazel Blears for her actions, but defends Geoff Hoon and James Purnell for the same actions.

He doesn’t know whether to sink or swim. It is apparent his character will not allow him to admit defeat and go to the polls, so we must accept that this leaderless Government will continue to tread water until 2010.

Meanwhile, the UK will muddle on without direction or policy. Anyone remember Nero?

Pass Gordon the fiddle.

Colin T Mortimer, Pity Me, Durham.

NONE of us like paying taxes, but we do because it’s the law and it’s supposed to pay for schools, hospitals and everything else that government has a responsibility for.

It’s always a source of public concern when taxpayers’ money is seen to have been wasted or squandered.

The MPs’ expenses scandal is something that will stand on its own pedestal of infamy quite apart from anything else ever seen before.

This is not a failed computer system or defence project that cost us all money and then didn’t work. It’s about greed and avarice committed by elected MPs, many of them present and past ministers. Some of the claims made must be offences of fraud and deception.

The sight of Hazel Blears waving a payback cheque for £13,000 was a loathsome spectacle. Do they really think that cheap stunts will erase this from the public memory?

It wasn’t that long ago that Commons Leader Harriet Harman spoke about former RBS chairman Sir Fred Goodwin and his £700,000 pension saying “it is not enforceable in the court of public opinion”.

Well, this court is now in session with MPs standing in the dock and the public expect some tough sentences.

Ian Sadler, Darlington.

THE current phrase with regard to the expenses scandal seems to be: “They just don’t get it, do they?”

This is illustrated by the comments from Sir Anthony Steen (Echo, May 22) complaining that the Freedom of Information Act has caused all the trouble, presumably not the activities of some of our MPs.

Could we suggest Sir Anthony himself as an example, having his trees lopped at the taxpayers’ expense? He states: “What right does the public have to interfere with my private life?”

The answer, of course, is that if he is taking money from the public purse, the public have a right to see where it has gone, and are now shocked to find it is used for tree lopping in the grounds of his “large house” as he describes it.

Hardly necessary for the undertaking of his duties as an MP.

Eric Gendle, Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough.

IF Chancellor Alistair Darling has to pay an accountant to complete his personal tax returns, it doesn’t fill us with much faith in his ability to set the national budget. Perhaps it would be better if this were done by an accountant?

CT Riley, Spennymoor, Co Durham.