Yesterday Chris Huhne and his former wife, Vicky Pryce, each received eight month prison sentences for perverting the course of justice. We could argue - and we would have right on our side - that the use of custodial sentences in such cases was not an omptimal use of taxpayer's money. Mr Huhne and Ms Pryce were both of previously good character and neither had any prior convictions. However perverting the course of justice - trying to twist the operation of the legal system in order to serve one's own ends - is a serious matter and one of which both Parliament and the courts rightly take a very dim view indeed. Justice had to be done and, importantly, be seen to be done. The imposition of custodial sentences has an important symbolic value and in this case they were an inevitable and necessary evil. We hope that they will use the experience for mature reflection, amendment of life and, if God grant it, become better people as a result. Mr Huhne is not the first politician to experience such a calamitous fall from grace and we very much doubt whether he will be the last.