Peter Mandelson was forced to resign for a second time in January 2001 after he had made misleading statements over a passport application. Where is he now? He’s the European Commissioner for Trade. Nice huh?

Today, David Blunkett resigned from the government cabinet for a second time. No doubt after some little while he will end up with a couple of cosy jobs.

In business if you don’t follow procedures or rules, you are disciplined. In the companies I worked in, there were clear disciplinary procedures which resulted in verbal and written warnings, followed by dismissal. It appears that nothing like this occurs in politics. Indeed, what company would re-hire someone a few months after sacking them?

But then, this is what is to be expected of politics. Everyone’s in it for their own gain. They exist in their own little world, full of nudges, winks and niches, and despite rules and committees, these don’t really apply. It’s all a bit of a laugh. An extended lads and lasses night out. Trouble is, they make our laws, our rules, and expect us to follow them. It’s a disgrace.