From self to service

There’s been something of a shakeup in the political system at Westminster following revelations about MPs’ expenses. With ministers resigning and Prime Minister Gordon Brown facing the toughest challenge to his leadership since he took office two years ago, it all begs the question: how we can reform a system that has been so badly abused?

It’s worth pointing out that not all MPs should be tarred with the same brush. Although there have clearly been some very dodgy goings on with home “flipping” and non-existent mortgages, there are still many MPs who claim very little, or even nothing on their second homes allowances. What rocked Parliament so much was partly the way this scandal was revealed. National newspapers got hold of the details of MPs’ expenses and set about drip-feeding them to the public in a way that laid bare the sheer greed behind the excessive claims.

The Prime Minister suggested a new independent body be set up to oversee Parliament and its expenses claims in order to prevent such abuses from happening again. The obvious benefit there lies in the fact that had this information been freely available in the first place, there would likely have been no scandal. Faced with the prospect of having to defend any spurious claims, MPs would have certainly thought twice before submitting them.

In Luke 12, Jesus gives his followers a stern warning that our politicians - indeed all of us - would do well to heed today: "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs. I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.”

How easily we forget our promises and let our standards drop when we no longer feel accountable to anyone – not to God nor to one another, not even to our own consciences. Put simply, when people know they are being watched they tend to behave better (although admittedly the reverse seems true on shows like “Big Brother”). Nurturing a culture of accountability by releasing MPs’ expenses into the public domain would do wonders for deterring would-be cheats.

A change in the system is not the entire answer, however. Also required is a complete change of heart and mind in the people who govern (or want to govern) our nation. Our politicians were much maligned even before the current crisis, but many surely went into Parliament out of a desire to serve and benefit the people of their constituency and the nation. Sadly the Archbishop of Canterbury was right to point out the inadequacy of the "what can I get away with" mentality that has become the order of the day within Government - and elsewhere. When MPs start abusing the system it is because they have lost sight of what should lie at the heart of their political calling – a desire to serve others - and have replaced it with a desire to serve themselves.

Words and intent are all very well but the proof of the pudding is always in the action.
That’s why Jesus was an exceptional leader. He taught us to “love our neighbour as ourselves” and to “go the extra mile”, in other words think of others before thinking of ourselves, treat others as we would like to be treated, and give more than what’s asked or expected of us – principles He lived out with His own life. Even the most secular of politicians would have to admit that if these timeless teachings were applied in the corridors of Westminster, our Government would be in better shape. Some politicians may claim “not to do God”, but the truth is they’re making a mess of things without Him. They clearly have more than a thing or two to learn from Jesus.