Stop dissembling and tell us the truth about this sorry affair

The story of the Prime Minister's wife and a convicted fraudster becomes more depressing as each day goes by and the press drags yet more damaging confessions from an unwilling Downing Street. Yesterday Number 10 owned up to the fact that Cherie Blair, a prominent QC and Court Recorder, had taken it upon herself to telephone the solicitors of a convicted fraudster, Peter Foster, about his deportation proceedings. Downing Street claims that Mrs Blair did not "assist" Mr Foster, who helped her buy two flats, in his legal battle against deportation from the UK.

That may be true, although it is still astonishing behaviour for someone in her position. What is perhaps even more galling is that, even after the experience of the past week, this information only became public because Mr Foster's solicitors released it. It all leaves Mrs Blair and Downing Street looking shifty, as if they will only tell the public the truth when they are forced to do so. Indeed, this has been the pattern of their behaviour throughout this sorry saga. If those notorious e-mails had not come to light we would have accepted at face value the initial assurances offered by Downing Street about the relatively innocent nature of Mrs Blair's relationship with Carole Caplin and Peter Foster. Instead Mrs Blair has been caught out trying to cover up the affair, and, most serious of all, in the process seemed happy to have Downing Street press officers tell lies to the press on her behalf. We are tempted to wonder what else is being withheld.

Of course Mrs Blair cannot resign as the Prime Minister's wife, although some of Tony Blair's staff might be forgiven for wondering if they really want to continue to work in this atmosphere. In any case, the obvious course of action that Mr Blair must take is to compile another of his famous dossiers, this time detailing his family's dealings with Ms Caplin, Mr Foster and any other members this circus. Nothing less than full disclosure – especially on the use of a blind trust – will do.

The sad thing is that even if Mr Blair does tell us the whole truth, his family will never again be the outstanding political asset they seemed when he first became leader of his party.