The Tower, Not Just The Hamlets

The investigation has begun into Lutfur Rahman's disposal of public assets such the Old Town Hall in Poplar to his friends and associates.

As well it might have done.

But no investigation has begun into rather grander persons' disposal of public assets such as the National Health Service and the Royal Mail to their friends and associates.

Moreover, much of Panorama's case against Rahman sounded like an objection to politics, simply as such. He looks after the people who voted for him? Well, yes.

The BBC seems to regard those as the wrong sort of people. Whatever might that mean? I am not only talking about race. Not even primarily so, and possibly not at all.

Directly elected mayors in general, however, are wholly alien to our political culture, and have no place in this country.