HERE’S an interesting concept. Having given a spectacular "no" to the question of my standing as MP for Macclesfield, I awoke this morning to find William Hill has made me 12/1 favourite.

How does that work? I even listed half-a-dozen candidates I thought would be better.

I guess that’s where I’m going wrong. Whenever I place a bet I always put my money on a horse I think will win, rather than a non-runner. (Mrs B says she’s disappointed I won’t become an MP as she fancied a new duck house).

I found it rather interesting that the majority of British Euro MPs are totally against the publication of their expenses. Bearing in mind their newly found commitment to "transparency" it’s just another example of political duplicity.

I do sincerely believe the publication of Euro MPs’ expenses would cause widespread revolt. It has to tell us something when their own accountants refuse to sign off the annual audit for fear of prosecution. That’s how deep the rot goes in Brussels and the sums involved are staggering.

The lesson we have all learned in the past months is that the public are there to be screwed and need to be protected from banks, pension providers, politicians and anyone else with access to our money.

None emerge with integrity. Sir Freddy Goodwin’s final act after decimating the savings of millions was to jack up his own enormous pension.

Brown, Cameron and Clegg saw nothing wrong with the excesses taking place in Westminster until they’d measured the depth of public anger, whereupon they held up their hands in mock horror, blamed it on others and deftly side-stepped any responsibility.

Gorgeous George Osborne somehow managed to be ‘unavailable’ for the vote on publicising expenses, although he claimed to be in favour. How convenient was that?

How many times do we hear politicians extolling the virtues of a political policy only to refer to it as a "complete disaster" in their lucrative memoirs. They have no shame.

The culture of duplicity is now so deeply embedded it’s become the accepted norm. The public don’t expect to be told the truth and those in office don’t feel any commitment to tell. In fact, to do so is a sackable offence in many organisations.

Believe me, if we really knew what went on in Brussels there’d be riots in the streets. That’s why they don’t want to reveal their EU expenses and why they denied us a referendum.

When it comes to looking after their own interests, they are exceedingly diligent.

Upon his incarceration, Al Capone said: "This is how they treat me and all I ever did was bring the lighter pleasures to people."

Many of our public figures hold similar deluded views.

The views on this page are Vic Barlow's and not necessarily those of the Express