Peter Reynolds

If you seek a moral compass or example in Britain do not turn to our leaders, nor to those who are the most highly paid, richest or with the greatest responsibilities.  Turn instead to those who have endured the most, who have striven for goals and ambitions with true honour and integrity.  Turn to men like Major Phil Packer, who completed the London Marathon on crutches and has raised nearly £1 million for Help For Heroes.

The disgusting spectacle by the Chelsea whore footballers; spoilt, fawned over and supported by the Russian Mafia.  Their conduct is ignored by the FA, which once pretended to stand for discipline and good behaviour in football but looks the other way when the serious money is involved.

The ignominious disgrace of so many MPs to which, to his eternal shame, the Speaker has profoundly failed to respond.  The calculated fraud, thievery and deception of the banking superclass who have been allowed to walk away with their ill gotten gains.  All these people – not as a group but as individuals – Drogba, Brown, Goodwin – should be named, shamed and punished.  If we let this behaviour pass without sanction then we let down men like Major Packer.  We let down men and women of honour in sport, politics, business and everyday life who try their hardest and invest their integrity in what they do.

Who is left to take the lead?  This huge problem creates a vacancy,  the most important  job in the country but I fear that we do not have a Barack Obama in Britain.  I fear that Rome is burning.