Fry: expenses hand-wringing "revolting"
21/05/2009
Stephen Fry attacks public hyprocrisy over MP excesses
Stephen Fry has waded further into the row over MPs expenses, warning that the media frenzy will be the death of anyone honest entering politics.
In an interview with The Big Issue, the writer and entertainer said he remained disgusted by public hypocrisy as ‘expensesgate’ continues to be the nation’s number one talking point.
“There’s nothing worse than the British in one of their fits of morality,” he said. “It is a revolting sight because everyone just points a finger and blames others.”
The comedian and actor caused raised eyebrows during the first wave of revelations, appearing as the lone voice of defence for beleaguered politicians, and attacking the “tedious bourgeois obsession” over their expense claims. Even in more reflective mood this week, Fry remained pugnacious.
“Where do journalists get off trying to pretend that it’s somehow worse to fiddle your expenses if it’s the taxpayers’ money than if it’s Rupert Murdoch’s? It’s morally indefensible,” he said. “By all means tell the story – it’s a very important story to tell, and I’m not sympathetic to the MPs at all. I don’t think they’re sorry, I only think they’re sorry they’ve been found out.”
The former Blackadder star blamed Britain's thirst for scandal for unrealistic expectations of our representatives. “Everyone I know whom I deeply respect and like and think is honest would never become a politician, because they’re not allowed to be normal human beings by the press, by us.
“On one hand we want the world to be perfect but we don’t want to pay more tax. We want the environment sorted and to keep our cars. No one can square these circles.”
He added: “We think that what’s wrong with the country is not us, but the person next to us. We prefer to say it’s the fault of some Scot who happens to be the Prime Minister – that’s just not the way the world works, in my view."
Loading...
More News...
Mercury Prize given the Elbow
Nominees say inclusion in the short list for tomorrow's award is 'surreal'
Nobel Laureate tackles Big Issues
Justice, poverty and philosophy on the agenda at Book Festival talk
Sir Alex pays tribute to friend and "great Govan man"
Manchester United legend honours the late Jimmy Reid
Free festival for Big Issue vendors
Universal Arts give magazine sellers free tickets for shows
Scots urged to dig deep for Pakistan flood victims
Aid agencies pooling resources to launch fundraising appeal
Health gap between rich and poor getting wider
Inequality at record high and set to get worse, say researchers
Housing benefit cuts will create 'ghettos'
Coalition government warned 200,000 people at risk of homelessness
This week's issue
Competition Winner
The five lucky winners of the SimplyLive.com Kiss USB Stick competition are: Mr Luke Smith, Swansea; Joe Thomas, Southampton; Alister Strachan, Inverurie; Andrew Robinson, Dundee; Agnes Carmichael, Bellshill
Share this on