Blair 'undermined' public trust in politics
Monday, 19 March 2007 12:00 AM
Prime minister Tony Blair has undermined public trust in politics and is facing a crisis over standards in public life as significant as the cash for questions scandal that marked the end of John Major's government, the outgoing public standards watchdog has claimed.
Sir Alistair Graham claims the Labour government will be "as closely associated with the loss of public trust" as Mr Major's was with sleaze.
Speaking to the Sunday Times the outgoing chair of the committee on standards in public life argued Mr Blair has been personally responsbile for a "very significant loss of trust" between politicans and the public.
He said: "I suspect Blair and his government are going to be as strongly identified with the loss of public trust as Major's was with sleaze. The public certainly feel let down over the period.
"The most fundamental thing is that Blair has betrayed himself. He set such a high bar for people to judge him and he has fallen well below the standards he set for himself."
The prime minister has committed "seven mortal sins" that have degraded politics, Sir Alistair continued, including; the cash for honours scandal, his alleged disregard for cabinet government, the "shocking political interferenace" in the fraud investigation of BAE's arms deal in Saudi Arabia, his dismissal of concerns over postal voting, the handling of investigations in ministerial disconduct, an "undue reliance on spin", and "politicising" the civil service.
The committee was established after the cash for honours scandal of 13 years ago in an attempt to restore public confidence in politicians. Mr Blair had previously decided not to renew Sir Alastair's appointment as chairman and the former trade union leader has since made a number of outspoken criticisms of the prime minister's conduct.
Sir Alastair told interviews he expects the government will move to scrap the watchdog completely. However he said he did not think Mr Blair sacked him as an act of revenge.
"I can't believe Blair operates on that sort of personal level. It is one of my failures. I failed to convince the prime minister that taking a lead on standards issues should be a central part of his government programme," he said.
The watchdog also criticised MPs' system of perks and benefits, claiming it is too easy for them to claim expenses and questioning the generosity of MP pensions.
However, Sir Alistair argued Gordon Brown could restore public confidence, saying he has met the chancellor and he is planning a number of reforms to clear up politics.
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