Quote of the day

"I am an ex-soldier, I believe that when you have got something wrong, you have got to 'fess up and get on with it. No point shilly-shallying or trying to avoid it. What has happened, has happened. I am ashamed of it. Therefore I am going to do what I can to put it right for the constituency of Newark."

Fine words from disgraced MP Patrick Mercer in his resignation speech, following his implication in a cash-for-questions scandal. Of course, if he's so keen to be seen to do the right and honourable thing, one wonders why he didn't "'fess up" and quit last year, when the allegations first surfaced, rather than "shilly-shallying" around until now...