Has Channel 4 opened a hornet’s nest?

The problem with the Channel 4 investigation into Zac Goldsmith’s election expenses is that it is an open secret amongst political practitioners that such practices are widespread and touch all the main parties where there are tight races.

Nobody would ever admit it but there is what amounts to an unofficial truce amongst the main parties not to probe too deeply into how opponents accounted for specific campaigns.

The reason is that they’ve all got dirty washing they want to hide and it’s not in the interest of any of them to have too much scrutiny.

This is almost totally confined to campaigns in the marginals where fierce battles took place.

It will be interesting to see what the Electoral Commission does.

Note: I’m still on holiday in Spain and will be back to regular posting next week.

Mike Smithson