In my life as a lawyer I am often called by irate politicians who want to show strong and decisive action where a public official has been found wanting; but experience tells me that there are always two sides to every story. Maybe its quaint, but I do believe in natural justice.

Local councils are big employers and owe a duty of care to their officials to follow a fair process, and not to trash a professional reputation in the press. They also have ‘best value’ obligations not to waste public funds.That applies to councillors as well as to the Leadership.

MPs employ no one, and hold no budgets. They often feel far less retrained in calling for heads to roll, even using the privilege of the House of Commons to say what they, or they say their constituents, feel. I suppose that is part of their role.