Stephen Fry: 'MP expenses not important'

Stephen Fry has said that the continuing scandal over the abuse of expenses by MPs is not important.

The comedian and author told BBC's Newsnight that people get the politicians they deserve and that abuses of the expenses system have been going on for years.

Fry said: "Anybody can talk about snouts in troughs and go on about it, but for journalists to do so is almost beyond belief.

"I know lots of journalists... and I've never met a more venal and disgusting crowd of people when it comes to expenses and allowances."

He added: "Let's not confuse what politicians get really wrong - things like wars, things where people die - with the rather tedious bourgeois obsession with whether or not they're charged for their wisteria.

"It's not that important, it really isn't. It isn't what we're fighting for."