A major moment in history is being repeated this week, as South Africa celebrates the twentieth anniversary of the release of Nelson Mandela from prison, which helped bring about the end of apartheid in the country.

Mandela had suffered at the hands of the authorities for many years, but he showed, even in his darker days, he learned to forgive as well. He was, and still is, a man of great wisdom and vision, a genuine political giant.

If only he was still president of South Africa. His mere presence  on the world stage would put most other world leaders… particularly our own prime minister Gordon Brown… to shame…

Around 389 current and former Members of Parliament have been told that they must repay around £1.3million in expenses claims dating back to 2004.

Some Parliamentarians had criticised the recommendations given by Sir Thomas Legg, the man put in charge of the investigation, but they really have no defence. Many commentators believe that this is not the end of the story, and many other expenses claims at present remain firmly under wraps, waiting to be exposed.

It’s a very sad state of affairs where people who we elect to serve us continue to milk the system for their own personal ends. The people of Britain desperately need a full and transparent reform of the whole way Parliament operates. Gordon Brown had enough time to do that while he is Prime Minister, but didn’t do anything. My fear is when the expenses’ row dies down, the MPs will abuse the system again.