Gordon Brown says we need better systems to clean up politics. One question: Why did you give Mandelson a peerage after he'd already resigned twice? Systems don't fix dishonour. Values do.

Gordon Brown has for long functioned as a sort of lugubrious reminder of the presence in British politics of a long dormant conscience. Like Sir Keir Starmer he is a man of integrity. But his ideas on “cleaning up politics” since 2009 have had very little effect.

Let us be clear, lest Mr Brown’s well-intentioned rants obscure the facts. In October 2008 Prime Minister Brown elevated Mr Mandelson to the House of Lords and appointed him to his Cabinet. Interesting decision. Mandelson had already been forced to resign twice from Cabinet. In 1998 as Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, for failing to declare an interest free loan from the Paymaster General whose business dealings were subject to investigation by Mandelson’s own department. Then again, in January 2001, for intervening over a passport application by an Indian tycoon who happened also to be a generous donor to the Millennium foundation, for which Mandelson was responsible.

So PM Brown turned a Nelsonian blind eye to Mandelson’s impropriety. He ignored his own better judgement and any ‘systems’ that might have pointed to his error and granted Mandy a peerage and an important position in government. WTF Gordie?

It is unreasonable to finger Gordon alone for this. The Conservative party with all their traditional middle class “standards” appointed Boris Johnson to lead them in their hour of need. For those challenged by “poor recall”, BJ had by then already achieved an impressively disreputable record. He’d fabricated quotes for The Times, been recorded agreeing to assist in the assault of a journalist, vilified for egregious racism, sacked as Arts Minister for lying and investigated for providing public funds to a shapely American Businesswoman. It was little surprise that, as PM, he gained further notoriety for his illegal prorogation of Parliament, for Partygate, Wallpapergate, The Owen Paterson and Chris Pincher affairs and much more besides. Systems, Mr Brown, systems. Pointless.

What is clear is that capable, motivated individuals will find ways around rules. So new ones are not the answer. And let’s also recognise there is a whole new breed of disreputables, starting with Messrs Musk and Trump who are manifestly above the law. Forget common or garden “rules”.

What is needed is a root and branch restructuring of this country’s value system. Starting in nursery school. Bring back a role for the Church in education. Put words like courage, discipline, common decency, duty, respect for others back on the curriculum. Vilify dishonour. Elevate in the popular consciousness – and to the House of Lords – HONOURABLE individuals. Not just political donors.

It’s wonderfully self-regulating. It’s called honour. We used to be good at it.