Darn it! What's an honest MP to do?

MPS have over the past few weeks been accused of living the high life through lavish expenses.

However, yesterday it seemed that they had been reduced to rags as David Mundell, the shadow secretary of state for Scotland, was seen sporting a pair of ripped trousers.

The MP for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale, who, unlike quite a number of his fellow politicians, has mostly escaped criticism for his expense claims, joked about the state of his Baulmers suit.

"In the good old days I could have bought a sewing machine on expenses to get them mended," Mr Mundell said. "Now I will just have to pay for a tailor myself."

He was at a photocall outside the Scottish Parliament with Annabel Goldie, the Conservative Party leader north of the Border, and his fellow shadow cabinet member Theresa May to promote the campaign for an early election.

The three were promoting a UK-wide campaign launched by party leader David Cameron, who has argued that the Labour government is "paralysed" and the expenses scandal means voters have lost confidence in the MPs currently sitting in the Commons.

Mrs May, the shadow work and pensions secretary, who was described as one of the few saints in the expenses scandal, said the public needed a new parliament.

"We allowed attitude to build up around the rules. We must all take some responsibility, but I think the public want to have their voice heard, and also I don't think it's good enough simply to have a new set of rules and a new Speaker: we need a new parliament."