A time for calm and sober reflection

By Mark Ferguson / @markfergusonuk

It is not every day that an MP is suspended from the PLP – especially not one so well known as Denis MacShane – and that reality should not be taken lightly. Such decisions are serious and are not made without thought by the leadership. However it is important at this time to engage in calm and sober reflection before casting around allegations. The principle of “innocent until proven guilty” should apply. The time for criticism, if neccessary, will come later.

The way forward for the Labour Party is, however, clear. If an MP is found guilty of election expenses, they should be dealt with swiftly and decisively by the leadership. The Labour Party, and politics in general, cannot afford any further festering sores over expenses.

The trust of the British people will be hard to win back – and would only be made harder if a party were to stand by someone who was found to have committed an offence. Ed Miliband has made the right noises so far, but the renewal of the party must continue apace, and the New Generation must be above anything which can be tied to so-called “old politics”.

If any politician is accused of something of which they are later found innocent of, it is only right that their party should allow them to return to the front line and play an active and full role. We are not at the point when this opening should be denied to MacShane, and we should all wait for the full facts before jumping on the “anti-politics” bandwagon as it rolls by.