PARLIAMENT was badly damaged by the MPs’ expenses scandal. It left taxpayers wondering who they could trust with their money and undermined democracy.

Our political system was left with a long way to go to rebuild confidence and yesterday’s jailing of former Labour MP David Chaytor was a step on that road.

Mr Chaytor was starting an 18- month jail sentence last night for falsely claiming £22,000 of our money.

He was elected to help legislate what the rest of us are allowed to do but lined his own pockets by forging tenancy documents and invoices.

The reality is that he will not serve 18 months behind bars. Indeed, he is likely to be released by May.

But it is surely the shame, more than the sentence, which is the real punishment.

He will be remembered as the first former MP to be jailed since Tory peer Lord Archer was locked up for four years for perjury and perverting the course of justice in 2001.

Instead of his smart Commons suit, he will be issued with prison clothing after being strip-searched, photographed and finger-printed.

Mr Chaytor did his best to avoid justice, disgracefully trying to hide his crimes behind Parliamentary privilege, and accusing the media of robbing him of a fair trial.

But the rebuilding of trust in parliament demanded a strong message from the judiciary. And an MP who betrays our trust so criminally deserves to be shamed and sent to jail.