We're all at it

During a visit to Bangladesh I was assured that the British don't suffer the kind of corruption endemic in, shall we say, certain developing countries. Politely, I explained that corruption certainly exists in the UK but is conducted with more subtlety than in some parts of the world.

Soon afterwards the MPs' expenses scandal broke. But nothing could have prepared us for the spate of revelations and allegations surrounding Rupert Murdoch's News International. Nobody in their right mind would have even imagined - until it happened - that NI would shut down the 168-year-old News of the World, biggest-selling Sunday that ran at a healthy profit.

As for the farce of Murdochs, senior and junior, before the House of Commons select committee, the resignation of Metropolitan Police high-ups, the cosy links between members of Parliament, the Press and the Police ... words fail me.