Lies, lies and more lies.

After an explosive weekend in which dirty politics came to the fore, there have been blatant untruths surrounding alleged bribes and a secret tape.

It’s difficult to determine who is misleading the public.

The two party leaders went head-to-head at the reconvening of Parliament on Friday and since then the murky waters of politics have become murkier.

Did Premier Craig Cannonier attempt to bribe Opposition Leader Marc Bean and Shadow Finance Minister David Burt in exchange for support for a plan to drop a referendum on gaming and securing a gaming licence? And did Mr Bean make inappropriate remarks — alleged to have been ‘disgusting and disturbing’ — to OBA MP Nandi Outerbridge in an attempt to get her to switch sides?

A slew of allegations relating to behaviour that, if not illegal is certainly unethical. Bermudians will now be pondering just who has been telling the truth in what may be one of the most acrimonious exchanges since the last election.

The House of Assembly isn’t a court of law but the people who elected these MPs expect are entitled to the same kind of honesty as those who stand before a judge and jury.

With these serious accusations flying to and fro, it’s clear that hasn’t been the case.

What transpired during the motion to adjourn was a fiery discussion — it could hardly be described as a debate — on gaming licences.

Mr Bean further revealed details of the bribes on a ZBM TV programme on Monday night in which presenter Gary Moreno warned him he might be overstepping the mark as regards the laws of slander and defamation.

Previously Mr Cannonier said his adversary was guilty of ‘bold-faced lies’.

Character assassination is nothing new in the House. Parliamentary privilege is an integral and valuable tool in the Westminster style of Government, but that protection isn’t always in the public’s interest, as has been the case in this latest upheaval.

The Premier claimed the contents of the tape recording were ‘so atrocious it could damage the country’.

The fact is that the damage has already been done.

In the same week that Government will unveil the 2014 Budget, a soap opera has been played out before a country which expects far more from those who will ultimately shape their future.

Dozens could lose their jobs if Finance Minister Bob Richards goes beyond what the recent SAGE report recommends.

Yet Parliament is embroiled in a tit-for-tat battle which is destroying the credibility of the party leaders and those who serve under them.

Mr Bean has suggested that he and Mr Cannonier should take a lie-detector test. That’s highly unlikely.

And Mrs Outerbridge won’t release the tape.

But there’s no doubt many would relish the chance to peruse a full transcript.

That would leave the public to make up their own minds whether anything unethical took place.

More pressing concerns might be on the political agenda this week but trust and integrity will always be uppermost in the minds of voters.