What the tribunal has unearthed is absolutely scandalous and disgraceful no matter what side of the House one is on, or what political party one belongs to. Its report is a damning indictment of the behaviour of people who choose to abuse their positions in local government. At a time when local authority members are trying to forge ahead with reform of local government, the report makes it quite difficult to make the case that councillors need more power given the way in which some used their offices to line their pockets. That is just one minor implication of the report and the activities of the Ray Burkes of this world.