The fact that a politician presents himself as value for money and then turns out to be a massive waster of public funds does not necessitate public indignation or even interest.

I believe the recent “expenses scandal” may have fooled you into believing this is the case.

In fact, the public indignation and interest at financial impropriety can be completely avoided by simply acting like a bufoon, having silly hair and falling in rivers. In fact, you can get away with even more than misuse of public funds – you can lie about building plans, lie about cycle lane introduction, remove cleaner buses and replace them with dirty old ones, reduce funding for rape crisis centres and then present it as a PR victory – the list is endless!

This tactic works especially well if, in fact, you are *not* a bufoon, but are very good at pretending to be one, to make yourself stand out and appear cuddly, different and likeable.

But are not Boris and (especially) Ian Clement agents for a nefarious Tory plot to demonstrate the possibility of excess in the public sector whenever they get the reins of power?