Leading Article: A lesson for the golden boy

Golden-haired golden boy David Willetts got his wrist smacked yesterday for a memo proposing that the cash-for-questions inquiry be delayed by the Tory MPs on the members' interests committee. Tut, tut, Mr Willetts; manipulating parliamentary standards for party political gain isn't really on.

His excuse? According to Tory MPs, the man is a little bear of exceeding large brain, who has little experience of such earthly matters, so we should forgive him his transgression. Hardly. Mr Willetts has learnt the hard way that, in politics at least, you are not supposed to commit all your splendid thoughts to paper. Otherwise your egg-head ends up with egg on its face.