What's the basis of the calls for resignation?

The Editor, Sir:

Regarding your editorial on Tuesday, you owe your readers further and better particulars to back your call for the resignation of Junior Minister Everald Warmington. Clearly, he is no candidate for Mr Congeniality, but if the mere initiation of a probe by the contractor general is a proper basis for his resignation as junior minister, why is it not the basis for his resignation as member of parliament also? They are both public offices - one accorded by the prime minister, the other by the voters.

It has not escaped me that if he resigns as junior minister, as you insist, it costs the taxpayers nothing. However, if he resigns as MP, as you say he needn't, that costs the taxpayers a by-election. Moreover, the voters could render farcical, these incessant routine calls for "resignation" every time a public official sneezes, by returning him to Parliament.

If the apparent elasticity of the highly selective "resignation" principle you postulate isn't based on the cost factor, what's the basis then?

I am, etc.,

Errol W.A. Townshend

ewat@rogers.com