Or, perhaps, in ex-whip James Gray's case, self-flagellate or be flayed by the public. It takes a peculiarly callous man to claim parliamentary expenses on wreaths laid on Remembrance Sunday. As Donal Blaney points out, this is the same man that cheated on his wife, whilst she had cancer, with another married woman. But 'at least' that was nothing to do with public policy. This is another kettle of putrid, rotting fish: and it stinks.

[caption id="attachment_242" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="The man on the left is definitely not in the right."][/caption]

The Conservative Party membership prides itself on treating our fighting men and women with the utmost respect. That is vindicated by the party's long-standing policies, which seek to treat them as the heroes that they are. James Gray is an ex-Territorial and the chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Army, and he has betrayed not only our service personnel, but the membership that thought he held the same values as we do.

Perhaps this is a damning indictment of the way that we honour our veterans and fallen more generally. We have seen a number of homecoming parades, but only after disgraceful scenes in Luton back in March. Meanwhile, some politicians seem to treat Remembrance Sunday as a way of getting into the local paper - even discounting Gray's expenses claims, how sincere can someone that goes to three services be?! Conservative Future members that volunteer for the Poppy Appeal could teach them a thing or two.

This issue has come up before, so KeepRightOnline will be more charitable with James Gray than Blaney, Iain Dale, or ConservativeHome. Tomorrow morning, Gray should make a grovelling (and we mean grovelling) apology, repay the taxpayer for his previous expenses, and announce his resignation from politics at the next election - or, if he prefers the embarrassment, a re-selection battle that he'll lose.

Moreover, he should put his money where his mouth is and give all income he earns (and expenses he doesn't earn, but claims anyway) over the next year straight to the Royal British Legion that he claims to support so charitably. That way, at least the servicemen and women that he offended by this get to see him make the financial commitment that he should have made in the first place. If he doesn't do this, withdrawal of the whip will be the least of his worries.

If he cannot get behind our troops, he should feel free to get in front of them.