Shrewd Opportunism?

Chris Huhne is merely thinking of his own political capital in writing to the Metropolitan Police Chief, Sir Ian Blair, demanding an investigation into the latest party funding row.

Perhaps he is hoping it will do for his reputation what it did for SNP MP Angus MacNeil's in "Funding-gate" pt 1.

Yet whilst Gordon Brown's suggestion yesterday that the donations were "unlawful" may imply a police investigation is necessary, that Chris Huhne is attempting to "cash in" (pun not intended) on the issue is quite base.

It might help him in his attempt to get the poisoned chalice that is the Lib Dem leadership, but it hardly paints a rosy picture of British politics in general.

As if potentially unlawful donations aren't bad enough, this petty sort of playground politics makes our legislators look like a bunch of ferrets in a sack.

The smart thing for opposition parties to do in this situation is to give the impression they are concerned with the consequences of this latest furore, and with the actions of those involved, without appearing to be shamelessly capitalising on it.