IT’S hard to believe it was already five years ago when all that public outrage erupted, with a fury that put Vesuvius in the shade, over duck ponds, second homes and, er, questionable choices of paid-for hotel room viewing.

But clearly not everyone has as good a memory as the general public – there can be little other explanation for this week’s Parliamentary pantomime.

It became increasingly inevitable that MP Maria Miller would resign this week, but it seems incredible the situation rumbled on so long.

She was cleared of funding a home for her parents at taxpayers’ expense following a 16-month inquiry, but was told to repay £5,800 of the expenses she claimed by the Commons Standards Committee.

An apparent lack of cooperation in the enquiry and a too-brief apology to the Commons seem to have been the nails in her Cabinet coffin.

Regardless of the details of her claims, the only politically savvy thing to do was, as soon as the toxic spectre of expenses was raised, to apologise like crazy, act with humility and fork over any cash questionably claimed.

Anything less was always going to be taken as a bit of a slap in the face of an electorate still riled over the pre-2010 expenses shenanigans. Maria Miller must have become a bit of a cautionary tale to her colleagues this week.

She has agreed to pay her £17,000 payout on leaving the Cabinet to charity. A nice gesture but too little too late as far as the court of public opinion is concerned.

That has judged her and, right or wrong, still seems to be gunning for any other expenses infringements with a zero tolerance Dirty Harry would be proud of.

THE only thing in life worse than being talked about is not being talked about,” Oscar Wilde once said. I’m not sure Maria Miller would agree, but High Wycombe’s Mayor Trevor Snaith probably would.

The Memorial Arch currently residing in the high street has prompted a few different reactions, it is fair to say.

There can’t be many who would begrudge the causes being supported – both One Can Trust and Child Bereavement UK are fantastic organisations well deserving of our donations. No, it’s the look of the arch that has provoked mixed feeling.

Some have been happy to see the bright and colourful construction towering over them, while one or two who have contacted the BFP have been a bit less complimentary.

It has created an undeniable buzz in the town, though, and not just through the launch ceremony last Saturday. The arch has noticeably got passers-by talking, with some wondering what it is exactly and others coming straight to the point to discuss if they like it or hate it.

So whatever you think of it – and it is only there for another week if any naysayers need to be reassured – it has certainly injected a bit of colour and feeling, and the Mayor and those responsible for getting it made, such as students from Bucks New Uni, deserve credit for that.