Self-interest or public interest? Both, for a change.

So, the last few days have seen Parliament united against a common foe.

Now, call me skeptical if you like, but I don't think our beloved leaders are acting with the purest of motives.

History tells us that popular opinion is rarely reflected by the actions of Parliament. So why this time?

That'll be revenge. And power.

Revenge for colleagues smote by the pen, careers thwarted on the flimsiest of evidence; the list is endless.

Anyone entering Politics does so to seek power. Otherwise what's the point. When that power has eluded them and those like them for generations because even the highest office in the land is beholden to tomorrow's headlines, then clearly they will seek to wrest back what should, democratically, be theirs.

The fact that this latest populist witch-hunt happens to reflect the revulsion of the vast majority of the population at News International's methods makes simply makes our politicians' agenda easier to achieve.