It is reported that the Chancellor, George Osborne, refused to rule out, when questioned at his appearance at the Treasury Select committee, an increase in VAT if the Tories were elected to form the next government, because it had been agreed that Cameron would make the announcement at PMQs in order to wrong foot Milliband.
Ignoring any party loyalties and taking account of the realities of a close fought election campaign, this is an outrage. To refuse to answer a question and to give a reply the ambiguities of which are designed to mislead is the same as a lie. Indeed it is worse because it is a deliberate programme set up to mislead and then gain advantage, rather than an attempt to avoid embarrassment by disclosing the truth. It is a truly appalling example to set to others who come before these important parliamentary committees which are perhaps the most powerful engines of scrutiny in our somewhat limited democracy. Bankers and journalists cannot be expected to set a higher bar for their own veracity than holders of Offices of State.
It is no wonder that politics is falling into disrepute. This childish episode demonstrates that even the most exalted political figures are, beneath the slick veneer, disreputable.