LONDON -- The evaporation of trust in lawmakers as a result of
the U.K.'s expenses scandal could make it more difficult to
achieve the shared sacrifice required to repair the fast-
deteriorating public finances.  With the U.K. government
forecasting that its debt will soar to 80% of gross domestic
product by 2014 as the country suffers its deepest recession in
decades, fixing the public finances will be the dominant policy
challenge for years to come.  The last 10 days has seen a string
of revelations that lawmakers from all parties milked the
parliamentary expenses system for their own personal gain. The
allegations have led to lawmakers being suspended, a ministerial
resignation and police investigations. Tuesday brought the most
significant casualty to date. Michael Martin, speaker of the
House of Commons, resigned, becoming the first holder of the
office to be forced out in over three centuries. The speaker
umpires debates and is responsible for the office that oversees
expenses. (See related article.)  In