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Williams wades into expenses row Williams wades into expenses row
(about 2 hours later)
The Archbishop of Canterbury has warned the "systematic humiliation" of MPs is a threat to Britain's democracy.The Archbishop of Canterbury has warned the "systematic humiliation" of MPs is a threat to Britain's democracy.
Dr Rowan Williams said the daily revelations risked making it impossible for people to regain their confidence in the democratic system.Dr Rowan Williams said the daily revelations risked making it impossible for people to regain their confidence in the democratic system.
Writing in the Times, he said: "Many will now be wondering whether the point has not been adequately made."Writing in the Times, he said: "Many will now be wondering whether the point has not been adequately made."
The archbishop's comments come after Tory MP Nadine Dorries complained of a "McCarthy-style witch-hunt" for MPs.The archbishop's comments come after Tory MP Nadine Dorries complained of a "McCarthy-style witch-hunt" for MPs.
The archbishop said: "The continuing systematic humiliation of politicians itself threatens to carry a heavy price in terms of our ability to salvage some confidence in our democracy."The archbishop said: "The continuing systematic humiliation of politicians itself threatens to carry a heavy price in terms of our ability to salvage some confidence in our democracy."
'Completely unbearable''Completely unbearable'
Dr Williams said it was important to preserve the idea that serving as a politician could be what he described as "a calling worthy of the most generous instincts".Dr Williams said it was important to preserve the idea that serving as a politician could be what he described as "a calling worthy of the most generous instincts".
Tory MP Nadine Dorries described the situation at Westminster as "completely unbearable" and suggested an MP might commit suicide under the pressure. But Labour MP John Mann told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the public had "a right to know" about MPs' expenses and that, ultimately, British politics could be strengthened by the affair.
He said: "Clearly there's major embarrassment, there will be casualties, we don't know politically who the casualties will end up being, and so it's major trauma for the political system and for politicians.
"But if we handle it well from now on, we'll recover confidence and we could have a far better political system even within a matter of months."
Mr Mann was speaking after Tory MP Nadine Dorries described the situation at Westminster as "completely unbearable" and suggested an MP might commit suicide under the pressure.
She was swiftly admonished by the party's leader David Cameron who said MPs should primarily be concerned about what their constituents were thinking.She was swiftly admonished by the party's leader David Cameron who said MPs should primarily be concerned about what their constituents were thinking.
Mr Cameron told the BBC: "Of course MPs are concerned about what is happening but, frankly, MPs ought to be concerned about what their constituents think and ought to be worrying about the people who put us where we are."Mr Cameron told the BBC: "Of course MPs are concerned about what is happening but, frankly, MPs ought to be concerned about what their constituents think and ought to be worrying about the people who put us where we are."
The new leader of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, the Most Reverend Vincent Nichols, said earlier this week that the expenses scandal showed that people needed their own moral sense as well as rules in order to guard against such transgressions.The new leader of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, the Most Reverend Vincent Nichols, said earlier this week that the expenses scandal showed that people needed their own moral sense as well as rules in order to guard against such transgressions.