LORD Bassam of Brighton is a politician respected by many regardless of political colour.

He has served our country – and indeed our city – admirably for many years and is currently the Labour chief whip in the House of Lords.

But yesterday he was well and truly caught out by a national newspaper for expenses he has claimed.

He has admitted taking a large amount of excessive expense reimbursements and quickly offered to repay his travel costs after questions were raised.

Shame on you Lord Bassam.

Many of us assumed – wrongly – we had heard the last of the political expenses scandal.

It has already done huge damage to the credibility of the House of Commons and House of Lords.

Lord Bassam said he had not breached Parliamentary rules but could have dealt with the issue in a more appropriate way.

It is quite incredible that he had indeed not breached any rule.

A Sunday newspaper reported that as chief whip and because his main home is not in London, he is one of a small number of Lords frontbenchers entitled to a Lords office holder’s allowance – currently £36,366 a year.

The payment, paid as part of his salary, is to cover peers’ expenses in staying overnight away from their main or only residence.

However the paper said that rather than using it to cover the costs of a second home in London or hotel bills, Lord Bassam simply made the hour-long train journey between Brighton and the capital.

At the same time the paper said he also claimed about £6,400 a year in expenses for train tickets and cab fares.

That is dubious behaviour.