THE GOVERNMENT'S defeat last night over the vital and highly sensitive issue of sleaze was a victory for commonsense.

Prime Minister John Major and his Tory top men failed to quell a rebellion of 20 backbenchers who saw the light and agreed that anything MPs earn as a result of their positions as MPs should be disclosed.

A ban has also been slapped on "advocacy" by MPs in support of commercial interests.

How anyone could have opposed such a move in a democratic society is beyond belief.

Fortunately enough Tories proved they have not only the guts to oppose wrong decisions but the guts to stand up to public scrutiny.

But not all may eventually toe the line.

In an unbelievable show of arrogance Conservative MP Sir Michael Neubert last night hinted he may defy the new rule.

Clearly Sir Michael's conception of a democracy falls far short of the dictionary definition.

This rule was arrived at via a free democratic vote and, as such, all those voting were morally bound to accept the final decision.

After all, the aim was never to strip bare every aspect of MPs' personal finances.

Their truly private lives will remain untouched.

Only the earnings they get as a result of their positions in parliament will have to be disclosed.

It is in the public interest for people to know whether the MP arguing so vociferously for a change in laws about, say, tipping of industrial waste, is in the pay of a company which actually handles the stuff.

Right-minded MPs should have no difficulty accepting the new ruling, and it is up to the government to ensure everyone, including the Sir Michaels of this world, sticks to it.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.