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I was told this morning that a Labour AM and a candidate in the upcoming European election took such flak while out canvassing that they simply gave up.

They wanted to talk about election issues and hand out leaflets. Those who stopped to talk to them wanted to have a go over the Gurkhas, MPs' expenses and hand out advice like 'get lost'. There was plenty of engagement, just not of the kind they'd wanted.

Shadow Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan, says Nick Bourne, is "very upset" by the way her claims for dog food have become a story. She admits it was wrong to make the claim but is upset because she was "close to her dogs." Mr Bourne must have sensed by now that her hurt is unlikely to cut much ice with the taxpayers who found they'd paid for their food.

In the Assembly all claims are based on receipts and details of claims are now made public. That's precisely why we'll continue to find out about the publicly funded ipods, sofas and pyrex bowls in our AMs' homes. There have already been reforms to make the system ever more transparent and there is no doubt that there will be more on the way once Roger Jones has finished his review of AM pay and expenses. He reports in July and it's getting harder by the day to imagine the current rules around second home allowances surviving much beyond then.

But one AM is jumping voluntarily - perhaps before push comes to shove. Conservative Alun Cairns has decided not to claim his second home allowance of some £12,500 for this year. Given he lives in Ewenny, that it must take him rather less time than it takes many Outer London MPs to get to work in the morning and given he's only eligible because of a rule relating to electoral boundary changes, then not claiming would seem at the very least
wise.

And now the race is on NOT to claim the 2.33% backdated yearly pay increase that was awarded to all 60 Assembly Members. The rise will kick in soon and the list of AMs who won't accept it, or who intend to hand it over to charity is growing by the hour.

Plaid's Leanne Wood, Bethan Jenkins and Nerys Evans won't be accepting it.

Two Labour ministers, Andrew Davies and Edwina Hart will be giving it to charity, as will fellow Labour member, Val Lloyd.

Conservatives Nick Bourne and Nick Ramsay will be donating their salary increases to charitiy.

The Alzheimer's Society, Maggies Cancer Centre, the Samaritans, Kidney Foundation Wales and the St David's Foundation Hospice Care will, I'm sure, appreciate their gifts.

The Presiding Officer, on the other hand, rolls his eyes in a way that suggests what you do with your independently-reviewed salary is a private matter, not an opportunity to curry favour with disillusioned voters.

In the meantime would-be European politicians and canvassers have to work out just how to engage with voters. They have three weeks to come up with policy arguments and headline themes that will lead to the people on the streets of Wales - and elsewhere - stopping to talk, not to shout.

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