The following piece appeared in The Independent today:

For the first year in its history, the Adam Smith Institute has opted not to award its annual Honest Politician Of The Year Award, explaining that “no qualifying candidates could be found”. Surely not! Anthony Steen was, apparently, nominated after claiming that people were “jealous” of his sprawling second home, as was Sir Nicholas Winterton for airing his opinion of standard-class travellers (”a totally different type of people”). Alas, neither man quite made the grade. Not to worry: “Next year we will give an award for Corrupt Politician Of The Year,” the event’s organisers added. “Corrupt politicians are actually the most honest. When bought, they stay bought.” A new law to live by, then.

Well done, The Adam Smith Institute,  for fooling them, although it might as well be true.