We are advised that Karl McCartney, the Conservative Member of Parliament for Lincoln, has apologised for offensive remarks in notes to the body which processes MP's expenses claims, the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. It is not our wish to dwell upon the remarks in question and we must allow Mr McCartney due credit for making a timely, swift apology. However the facts remains that Mr McCartney should have kept himself above reproach in the first place, regardless of whether or not he had just cause to complain about the IPSA's handling of his claims. Given that most of them are highly educated people, the electorate is entitled to expect Members of Parliament to understand the responsibilities of public office and behave accordingly. If we cannot expect tact, discretion and clean language from our elected representatives, what can we expect? This whole sorry episode has cast an unfortunate light on one of England's oldest and noblest cathedral cities. May we dare to hope that lessons have been learnt from it? Perhaps Mr McCartney might reflect upon the fact that elections are won and lost in marginal seats such as Lincoln. Had a thousand people voted differently at the last General Election he would not be in office, a thought which concentrates the mind wonderfully.