Totally agree with previous comments, Democracy now appears to mean the more you cheat ,steal or defraud the more suited you are for political office. With the dressing of a superficial educational certification to appease deflect the curious. and fawning over party officials a seat on the gravy train is assured.
MEP's and Brussels civil servants have yet to to produce legal audit that any one could or would put their name to. And these are the people that ensure the public go to jail on minor law infringements. And preach to Africa anti corruption and good governance - Sheer Hypocrisy.
Enough to justify Transparency International creating a whole office just for the EU organisation alone.

Alexander, Victoria,

Do we get the leaders we deserve. Frankly I don't think so. We get those that can lie and cheat their way to the top of a particularly dirty pile. Why are we surprised when the very sad qualities that got them their positions of power manifest themselves in the administration of public funds. The penalty for abusing such a position of trust should be sufficiently severe that even these greedy individuals will think twice. But what has happened to honest decent people that used to take public office to serve society rather than themselves. Clearly the system is now causing the scum to rise to the surface rather than the cream. We need to examine the fundamentals of our society and the way in which we elect people to high political office. By their very decision to become career politicians many of our candidates display the very qualities of greed and lust for power that should bar them from holding public office.

Tony Woods, London, UK

that will be the day !!!!

david c, purbeck,