She has just given a door-step statement justifying herself saying she didn’t at the time think it was wrong. She also says she will refer herself to the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner (after she has been caught). Come off it – this is a variation on the “Hain Defence” tactic – when you have been caught, turn yourself in. Why only now?

In 2003 she told The Observer “Sleaze was a particular turn-off to female voters and I can quite understand that. They also, in 1997, felt that the Conservative Party was out of touch and arrogant.” It would be a full four years before she took the first chance available to fiddle her expenses…

UPDATE : Those claiming that the children were at school in May 1997 so the nanny was free for six hours during the day should note that the youngest son was pre-nursery age (2 1/2 years old, born December 1994).