CONGRATULATIONS to The Northern Echo for the comprehensive article on the financial interests of MPs in the region (“Anything to declare?”, Dec 30).

This type of investigatory journalism may not be popular with parts of the establishment, but it needs to be highlighted. MPs with more than one house employing their own family etc will rankle with many.

Having been part of the political establishment at the council level and once working for a local MP, I had to leave such employment just before the exposure of MPs’ expenses. I could see the writing on the wall.

However, it appears that after the expenses debacle, not much has changed. Of course the MPs and their supporters will hope that it will fade back into the background, like MPs’ pay rises, and be overtaken by the Brexit saga.

George Dunning, Ormesby