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Today's news that the three Labour MPs being prosecuted over their expenses are being given legal aid, reminds me of just how ruthless political parties can be when there's an election in the offing.

You may recall that a few weeks ago it was revealed that the solicitor being employed by the three MPs is Gerald Shamash, who has handled many of the Labour Party's biggest legal cases over the past 20 years.

Labour was especially embarrassed by this news since Mr Shamash was helping the MPs argue their case that they should be exempt from prosecution because of parliamentary privilege.

I should stress that Labour was not paying Mr Shamash for this work. But as soon as his role for the MPs became public knowledge, he was immediately dropped by the party until further notice. It was all too embarrassing for Gordon Brown.

That seemed a pretty rough way to treat a solicitor who has helped Labour get through some sticky legal situations, often, I imagine, at pretty generous rates.

Indeed Labour probably accounts for the bulk of Mr Shamash's casework, if nor earnings, in recent years.

And the decision to drop Mr Shamash seemed especially harsh since the three Labour MPs had actually gone to the Labour hierarchy to ask whom they should approach for legal advice.

And it was Labour, I understand, who advised them to go to Gerald Shamash.
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