Government win or an embarrassing U-turn?

The government has won a series of votes on MPs' expenses but only after it agreed to delay a decision on controversial second homes allowances.

The Tory leader David Cameron said the postponement was a sign that Gordon Brown's authority was "ebbing away".

The plan had been announced by the prime minister in a video on the Downing Street website less than a week ago.

Meanwhile a former home secretary has warned Labour MPs to "avoid self-inflicted wounds" and "get back to old-fashioned politics".

David Blunkett told the Guardian newspaper that the PM must "draw a line in the sand" after his recent setbacks. Labour "has lost its political antennae and needs to get them back", he said.

What do you think of David Blunkett's warning to the government? How should the second homes allowance be tackled? Can the government go further with the changes?

David Blunkett's warning to Labour

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This debate is now closed.

Your comments:

Labour has lost its way for one very good reason. There has been little challenge to its very existence. There is little opposition, no credible alternative and Labour knows this. The open goals for the other parties to make vast political capital out of are many and becoming laughable. I actually worry that while Labour has sold UK down the globalisation route and eroded much of what made UK great, there is still no clear vision how any party can get us back on track. That will show in the political apathy as elections are planned for - who will really give a damn?
Andy Pettman, Weymouth, Dorset

It is and has been an absolute disgrace that MPs think they are above the law. They should set an example by treating their time in parliament as a job/service to the people. They should be on performance related pay. They should attend a given total of votes, committees and raise a given amount of concerns from the constituents. We should be able to see records of their performance and thus be able to influence their year end gradings on their pay. I have to work very hard and serve long years for my pension and so should they. It should not be the MPs at parliament voting on expenses but the voting public.
rabble rouser, Edinburgh

If Charles Clark and David Blunkett are so unhappy with the Labour Party, I assume they will be resigning their seats and their over inflated expenses claims to show their displeasure and their solidarity with the public who are struggling in these tough times. Or maybe they will just continue with their two houses and claims for anything and everything.
Ian Smith, Buxton UK

Why do those who benefit from the decision have the right to vote on it? By passing there own law they become above the law. "The creatures out side looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again, but already it was impossible to say which was which".
Eamonn Arthur, Cookham, Berkshire

A one called Jacqui Smith has caused her fair share of the Labour parties demise and should have been given her marching orders months ago. As far as I see it, being a hardened labour supporter for the past 20 years, there is nothing the labour party can do now. Too much water under the bridge so to speak. Unless certain key people are removed which isn't going to happen let's face it.
Anon, Bristol

The whole political system has lost its way, it's time for a change, it's time for proportional representation.
Rev Brown, Northampton

A govt win or an embarrassing U-turn? Mr Brown lost all kind of directions long ago. When he appointed his old enemy, how desperate can you be to do that.
Alex C, London

Sorry but let's get this clear its not just one political party, it's the whole bally lot of them. All politicians are responsible for this mess, we need to review the structure of the government in terms of the current party system. As it's just crashing from disgrace to the next.
mick, Scotland

The scale of the sheer and utter hypocrisy of the Labour party is nothing short of astounding. When it is perfectly obvious to all that they are about to lose power for a very long time , THEN and only then do they scream about MPs' expenses , after THEY have milked the system of every possibly penny they could and yet they have the gall to try and look good as if they were trying to do something to help , only though when it won't affect their ill gotten gains......sheer and utter hypocrisy !!
Tom Ferraioli, Bonnybridge, Scotland

Labour serve who they are supposed to very well. If you're British working/middle class forget it, you're irrelevant.
David, Cornwall

A Labour government was voted in by the masses in order to help the masses. They ended up helping themselves and the rich and though hard to admit this I think that had the Tories been in power over the last 12 years the working class masses like myself would actually be better off. It is shameful that so few help so little.
noel, Taunton

If Charles Clarke is ashamed to be a Labour Party MP perhaps he should resign.
N Rodger, Driffield, UK

Blair destroyed the credibility of Labour and all other politicians the day he became PM.
Richard, Buckinghamshire

I am retired and in receipt of 2 small pensions. It turns out that HMR&C together with my principal pension provider have omitted to tax one of my pensions. I now owe £2000 over five years, with 2008/9 yet to be assessed, all to be paid off over three years. I am now way below the poverty line. My MP, a minister, has claimed in excess of £130,000 expenses including £800 on flights for his wife. I cannot tell you how angry, affronted, resentful and cynical the issue of expenses makes me. These people live on another planet of excess and elitist indulgence. It is quite grotesque.
ian lewis, Cumbria

A u-turn to protect MPs for now it seems. To be hoped in 2010 Brown goes to the country and we can get them out. How can MPs purport to be doing the right thing, when the population as a whole are suffering. Very low if any saving rates in banks, and a lot losing their homes.
Antony Forst, Stoke on Trent UK

Not a win and not a u-turn. It's the final nail in New Labour's coffin. I hope they never get elected again. Not that I support the Tories as they should never be elected again either. Time for a proper New Order - and not the limited "vision" of that idiot Scot in No. 10.
adey, plymouth

Lost! Full stop is the only expression necessary. Companies going to the wall, people losing their homes, massive spate of bankrupts; what are they doing? Gone into lockdown to protect their expenses and perks. This is not the time for this rubbish. Meantime the criminal activities and negligence of the Banks, BofE and the Government, FSA included goes unchecked. Swine flu will give them a few weeks out of the limelight. Then what? More of the same I guess.
Bill C. Billinness, Windsor, UK

Blunkett lost any political antennae a long time ago and that is why he is not longer a minister. What we need is a whole new set of politicians not this incestuous lot giving jobs to wives, sons etc. at the taxpayers' expense. They are a nest of vipers that need clearing out as they are corrupt and beyond reform. I seen on TV last night that Portillo is supposed to be in line for a knighthood from Cameron. It stinks and is sickening - how they all look after themselves at the taxpayers expense?
Patrick, Yorkshire

Why don't the government purchase suitable flats or small houses in the appropriate areas for the MPs to use as second homes free of charge while they are going about their MP duties. Surely this would save a fortune over time as the properties would probably go up in value over time and could simply be utilized by the "next" MP should he or she get voted out at the next election.
james ford, Exeter, UK

This government has lost touch with the public and is too concerned with its own spin. It has been imprudent with our money and lost its moral and financial capital. Time to go and regroup with a new leader and a new direction.
Jane Chapman, Bury UK

"New" Labour have been nothing but a disaster for the United Kingdom from day one.
John, Derbyshire

I would go as far as to say that Brown is about as credible as his old pals - Goodwin and Crosbie. They still don't believe that they are at fault for anything either. Brown is like the Titanic - sinking fast.
david waldron, Northamptonshire

What is the difference between dictatorship and democracy? Democracy is where, every few years, you get to choose who dictates. We need a government that actually listens. This government is so far disconnected from the people of this country that they seem to have shifted over to a parallel universe.
PB, hants

Mr Brown should be better off listening to Mr Cameron for advice than Alastair Campbell. In other words, with friends like that, who need enemies?
Alex C, London

Has the government lost its way? Did it ever know the way in the first place? A worse bunch of incompetent fools I have yet to have the misfortune to come across. If they had any morals at all they would dissolve parliament and let the general public have their say.
Soojie, HW

Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling have lost touch and lost the confidence and trust of ordinary Joe Public. Those of us lucky enough to have jobs are being asked by our employers to watch every penny of spending, yet they are letting MPs spend without impunity. In addition, they are doing nothing to curb the ineptitude and arrogance of the banks and financial institutions that have got us into such a big mess. Brown and Darling clearly have little or no authority. They also have absolutely no respect for Joe Public - who in turn do not trust or respect them at all.
Dave Love, Kesgrave, England

Not only have Labour lost its political antenna. I believe all the major parties have lost public confidence due to their "We know better than you attitude and their shameless bending of MP's expenses rule's".
David Goodall, Leeds, England

A utility block should be built near Parliament to house MPs attending the House. Then scrap any claims for housing. MPs should be subject to the same taxation as the electorate, no privileges.
Dave, Worsley

MPs re pay and expenses should be referred for root and branch review by a wholly independent remuneration committee and no MP should sit on that committee!
Eleanor, Glasgow

Yes the government has lost its way, but you could have asked this question 2 years ago, nothing this government do or say now is believable or trustworthy.
Dave Endsor, Cheadle, England

David Blunkett's warnings are 10 years too late. Labour under Gordon Brown are reaping the rewards of 12 years of deceit, spin, greed and incompetence. I remember that the reason John Major got booted out was a mixture of boredom and sleaze. This government have not only sunk lower on the sleaze scale than any in living memory, they have brought our once great country too its knees (again).
Paul Krykant, Reading

The prime minister's behaviour is becoming increasingly erratic. All his recent appearances consist of little more than repetitive claims of responsibility for every good thing that has ever happened, inappropriately punctuated his strange smile. His efforts on YouTube were completely humiliating. I never thought there could actually be a worse PM than Blair. I'm old enough to remember Atlee and Churchill and this is by far the worst government we have had in this time.
Chris, Ceredigion

Er, excuse me Mr Brown - are you forgetting about the houses etc that the tax payer has bought (via expenses) for MPs? These must surely be handed back to the government and sold - and not allow MPs to claim them as their own.
Brian, Lancashire, UK

They should be treated like other people in jobs and paid for what they do. I have no problem with paying them a decent salary so long as they are clear about what it is for and they understand that it covers their reasonable work commitments. Let's be honest here, no one went into politics, got elected and then realised there would be a fair amount of travel involved! People seem to be going into it for their own selfish reasons and that is why there is a basic lack of trust.
Bill, Cupar, Fife

Buy a block of flats in east London, give one to each MP to use. Fit up with all necessary IT links. Free TFL pass for getting to work. ALL constituency admin to be done via provided admin backup. Daily allowances to be same as for most workers, i.e. around £5 a day. Problem solved!
Barry P, Havant England

They haven't had a political antennae since 1998. Take today's example: the MPs criticise the bankers. Yes, and who set up the regulatory system? The MPs.
David Alexander, London

Labour lost its way with the decision to go into Iraq. They had to lie, spin and deceive to get the war through Parliament and have continue to spin and lie ever since. PMQs is a farce. Brown is incapable of answering a question or telling the truth. Labour are completely out of touch with UK public opinion on almost every issue.
PJMtigerman, East Yorkshire

Blunkett is living in denial like the rest of the Labour party. They lost their way over a decade ago - remember the F1 donation scandal weeks after Bliar came to power. Sadly the death of Princess Di overshadowed the first evidence of their corruption and hypocrisy. Since then, they have not achieved a single good thing and have, instead, destroyed everything that was good about Britain and bankrupted us. Bliar was a dictator deciding to take us to war on his own decision and it seems Brown is no different. The expenses issue applies to all MPs and finally they will be dragged kicking and screaming into the real world where they will be made accountable, at last.
Nick, Reading, UK

It's all games and tricks, smoke and mirrors. What little trust I had in politicians has evaporated completely, with Labour the party whose snouts are deepest in the trough. One thing that has puzzled me lately: why would someone claim for a bath plug on expenses? Isn't that why people are paid salaries?
Neil Hardie, Aberdeen, United Kingdom

The majority of ministers appointed since Labour came to power have not had the necessary competencies to be in high office. Add to this their lack of sensible and ethical behaviour regarding the expenses fiasco, it is no wonder we shall have a new party governing us come the next election.
PETER BAUM, SOUTHEND ON SEA GB

It is not just a question of losing antennae. The problem is that the venality and greed which infects the UK political system has at last been noticed by the public. The Tories lost office in 1997 because of "sleaze". But a few months later the Ecclestone affair showed that Labour was just as bad. Thorough reform is required. MPs and political parties should not take money, benefits in kind, jobs, holidays or expensive entertainment from any private source and only essential expenses from the state.
David Butler, Glasgow, UK

Too right Gordon Brown has lost control of his MPs and reckon that if he did call a general election Labour would lose, suggest therefore that if GB does call an election that a removal firm is put on standby.
allan smith, cupar fife

I'm a 21 year old student and I think I am representative of the student populace when I say we have nobody to vote for who will represent us. I predict the worst voting turnout in British history in the next election.
James, Hertfordshire

It seems to me that Gordon Brown wants to make these changes to second home and other MP allowances, but it is other MPs including the Tories who were against it. This would have been an ideal opportunity for all MPs to have backed the changes and maybe given the general voting public a bit more faith in them.
Maureen, Reigate

There are to many snouts in the trough for MPs to vote against change.
frank 553, Manchester

Second home allowances should be completely totally scrapped and replaced with a lodging allowance for those who need overnight accommodation close to Parliament. All MPs' expense claims should be accompanied by an appropriate VAT receipt. It works for business people and will work for MPs. Nothing less would be unacceptable to the voters.
Richard McCoull, Reading, UK

HYS has a serious problem; the same can be said for the government. Its problem is an inability to govern. I can't imagine Blair would have allowed things to get like this. The old adage of be careful what you wish for must be ringing around GB's head. I don't believe Cammy and the ideologues have any idea either; so will sit the next election out unless someone, somewhere can inspire me as Blair did in '97.
Barry, Hornchurch

We know we are going to get a kicking at the next election. I want to be able to say "told you so".
Philip Le Roux, Aldershot Hants

I think David Blunkett has a very short memory. It was him giving preferential treatment to his girlfriend's nanny that was one of the first major issues that led to my distrust of MPs. As for the 2nd home issue, the best idea is for the public to own the flats and when the MPs step down the next MPs can move into them. They can be furnished reasonably without excessive items such as super flat screen TVs etc. They are only using the homes to sleep in really as they should be spending most of the day in parliament or else in there constituency area.
Ray, London

All governments seem to reach a point where they no longer appear to be in control. The MP allowance issue has blown up and is being used by the opposition as a stick to beat Brown. Although Cameron didn't say a word about this issue on coming Tory leader so its just a cheap point scoring exercise in my view. The depressing thing is that it looks like Cameron and his mates will be the new government next year. They are mired in the same mindset as New Labour, their only firm commitments being a tax cut for the top 6% and the return of foxhunting. His government (if elected) will go the same way as the present administration, the only question is how long will it take?
BrianB, Newcastle UK

Living in "Erith & Thamesmead" the Labour party have totally lost the plot, having forgotten those they are supposed to represent, looking after their own interest only and trying to rig the candidate selection. For us here this is closing the door after the horse has bolted, the outgoing MP having claimed more than the average annually salary here on top of his salary. Wish I could get another £23K on top of my salary doing the same journey as he does!
ColPete, London

I think the whole political class, in this country, is always far too focussed on itself to really pay much attention to the wishes and priorities of ordinary people. Politicians love to talk about politics, other politicians, and the mechanics of how Parliament works. If only they paid as much attention to the rest of British life, we might have some laws which made sense and were workable.
David Hazel, Fareham, UK

If Gordon Brown had really had a "moral compass" he should have sacked both Jacqui Smith and Tony McNulty. Instead, he fiddles and faddles about and then jumps in feet first with the wrong decision. The result? He has proved that he is totally lacking in leadership qualities.
Dorothy Wilson, Loughborough, Leics

In 1997 I believed 'things could only get better', having only known the self-serving, sleaze-ridden Tories. I've since learned that all politicians are the same, regardless of party.
chris, Birmingham

They've taken the authority and faith we entrust their public office with and trodden it into the dust. When the prime minister is interviewed and denies saying whatever he said on YouTube just a few days previously, you know he's living in a world of his own make believe and is dangerously delusional. The trust has gone along with our respect for his office while he remains there. Labour have been the worst, most mendacious government in living memory and have wrecked this country. We want a general election asap.
Susanna Smith, Newmarket/UK

Initially, Brown would not agree to meet with Cameron and Clegg on the subject of expenses stating that it will be referred to committee. Then within days he decided to go on YouTube to announce his ill thought out proposals. What a shambles. Brown is dead in the water now the Labour backbenchers are scared what might happen in the next election. The end is nigh!
Gary, Torbay

Jeremy Clarkson got it spot on with his description of the PM. This government has overseen the collapse of this country into abject communism. How we move forward I do not know, but it will will not be under a Labour administration.
Baldrick Mentol, Pumpherston

It's a bit of a worry when the voice of reason and the parties moral compass on this matter is Blunkett.
Lorne, London

I am ashamed to say I voted Labour at the last election, well after this never ever again, a more incompetent lot that seems hell bent on destroying our freedoms I don't think has ever existed in the country before.
Labour voter no more, Salisbury, UK

The Labour Party lost its authority long ago when Brown replaced Bliar!!! We now need a strong Conservative government led by Dave Cameron to will back the public's confidence in both politicians and the whole political process. Come on you Tories!
Dan H, West Midlands

How should the second homes allowance be tackled? Shouldn't be any. All eligible MPs should have use of a dedicated B&B with full services provided - much cheaper and no money for the tricksters! They do not need second homes in the capital.
jr, Bournemouth, UK

When New "Labour" became the party of spin, hysteria, kneejerk reactions and listened to the tabloids, while declaring illegal wars, and also declaring war on the poor, became a party of control freakery and incompetence they lost its political antennae? Hilarious, they lost the plot years ago and will lose the next election. As a former Labour man I say good riddance to bad rubbish.
Voltaire, Stoke on Trent

Labour lost its political antennae around 1995 when it stopped pretending to be a party representing the interests of the working classes and moved to embrace the bankers and readers of the Daily Mail.
Tim Reynolds, Brussels, Belgium

Does is really matter whether GB has lost respect within the party, the whole party has lost the respect of the public.
talkativechap, Salisbury, England

I think it's far more serious than merely losing 'antennae'. The whole establishment appears infected with a rather potent strain of 'incompetence, moral bankruptcy and corruption' virus! Its a serious infection but I fear anti-virals will have little effect!
Spence Black, London

This would be the same David Blunkett who voted with the government to restrict the Gurkhas' right to live here, yes?
K Panton, Burton

They lost it a long time ago when they decided that implementing their various strategies of social engineering were more important than the people. I hate them and cant wait for the chance to vote them out.
jeremy, Plymouth UK

Our country is run by an increasingly panic-stricken PM that has never won an election, leading a government that has taken us to war under a false pretence and has saddled us with national debt that will take a generation to repay. Now we find that rather than fulfilling their basic purpose of serving the country, MPs are simply serving themselves, passing rules that allow them to fill their pockets at the expense of the taxpayer. They seem bereft of morals (David Blunkett - didn't he have to resign?) and are only too happy to perpetuate a flaw in our democracy which means we have to put up with 'New' Labour for another year. Heaven knows what mess the country will be in by then.
P clayton, Cambridgeshire

Yes, sadly Labour like the Tories before them has effectively shut down. They no longer listen to the people who voted for them, all they seem to be doing is bowing to the banks. Or becoming obsessed with snooping on the people. They need to get a grip and remove the civil servants that have for so long ruined this nation. We must not forget it is them as much as the government that create the problems, they seek their own agenda. We need a deep clean of Whitehall.
Sam, London

Definitely not a government win....the only poll Brown is winning at the moment is the top petition at No10 calling for him to resign.
Jobrite, Worthing

It's not just Labour - it's the lot of them. MPs expenses are completely out of whack with the wages of the people who MPs are meant to represent. There is nobody in parliament I'd want to vote for.
Andy, Warwick

David Blunkett is the epitome of the failed Labour party. Disgraced in whilst in office he doesn't deserve to be listened too now. Politics will now forever be tainted with greed, and the men of principle are forever gone from the labour movement.
John, Workington

This government has never had any policies that it was seriously going to implement. All they have been is a sound bite party. They have relied on personality politics, using Blair and Brown as their figureheads. It has now come back to bite them. The one thing they do have in common with 'Old Labour' is taking this country to the brink of bankruptcy, then hoping someone else will recover the situation. Then the weak minded voters of this country vote them back in to bankrupt us once again. Labour deserves this country and this country deserves Labour. Why? Because they are both devoid of any moral integrity.
Stephen Robertson, Dinnington

I'd like to know why WE, as the employers, don't have any say in this? And before any smart Alec says we do by electing them - yes, we may have elected them, but that doesn't (or shouldn't) give them carte blanche to decide for themselves what pay and/or perks they can take from us. I can just imagine going in to work tomorrow and telling my boss, "Oh, by the way, from tomorrow I want you to pay for my mortgage and patio heaters".
Piggy and Tazzy, Barnsley, South Yorkshire

New Labour has nothing to do with the Labour Party that I always supported. It is a right wing political party who believe in capitalism and privatisation even though it has now been proved that such a system does not work.
Fred, London

Don't lets forget that nobody elected the present prime minister and it is unlikely that anybody would have done if they had been given the chance. The sooner he and the rest of his totally incompetent cabinet are gone the better for the country. If you truly value the future of this country Gordon Brown, call an election now so we can elect a competent government.
andy, Norwich

What's really embarrassing is having to listen to yet another former Labour luminary pontificating from the sidelines. Embarrassing not so much to the government as to the country as a whole, because the implication is that a few minor course corrections can yet make this government appear fresh and vital when everyone but a few New Labour diehards knows that it has been clapped-out for years - a bunch of (mainly) grey, tired men and clueless women who never came close to meeting the expectations of the electorate, and have a lot to answer for in regard to the economic mess the country is in.
Mike Brecher, London, UK

I don't think Labour have had any antennae, they seem to have ignored the people they represent.
helena, Leicester

Labour lost its way some time ago by once again looking up its own nether regions. It appears to gone down the route that lead to disaster for the country and its own party in the 70s. They have forgotten who voted them in and I am sorry to disillusion all the 'class warriors' (in their heads), but it was not the working class.
J Karran, Merseyside

Labour never had a political antenna to start with, quite why you should think they have lost it is beyond me.
N Gillam

I stood in the 1997 general election as New Labour, in Hammersmith & Fulham. When asked by the BBC why, I said it was to show them up for what they really are as I knew back then that a Labour government would be a total disaster. I was right.
William Johnson-Smith, London, England

They've certainly lost the plot and are completely out of touch with reality.
sisyphus, Cambridge, UK

They lost the plot a long time ago. Main reasons:
Lies, lies, spin and more spin.
Incompetence.
Undemocratic.
Broken promises.
Never listened to the people.
Arrogance.
lewis, Wales

I think Labour are panicking for no good reason. The second homes scandal won't have much impact on Labour's standing. What matters to me is Iraq, and there are 179 reasons, all in wooden boxes, never to vote Labour again.
Kosh, Reading

A shrewd political manipulation by Brown - Labour MPs voting against the changes would have forced a vote of no confidence. Now they keep their lucrative jobs for another year, though at the cost of their integrity, not that it was highly valued anyway. All MPs are now tainted with their own greed.
Martin Crompton, Llangollen, North Wales

"New Labour has lost the plot and look like headless chickens. Hopeless, hysterical, questionable.
jimadore, Cardiff, Wales

If you define political antennae as devices used to detect where spin and generous public money would help keep Labour in power - yes even they have gone. If you mean devices that should be used to detect and correct inequality or national malfunction - no Labour never had those in the first place.
Mark Lewis , London UK

It must be remembered that David "Jump on any bandwagon" Cameron leads a party that has resisted changes to expenses for a long time, and is very reluctant to have second job earnings exposed, as they will not come out of it looking very good. It is flagrant Tory hypocrisy to accuse the government, under their rule there was no transparency at all, all the openness around expenses has been Labour's doing.
Tony Batchelar, Brighton UK

The delay in dealing with the 'second home' allowance speaks volumes about these self-serving individuals. They urgently need to restore some kind of integrity to the role of MP. This can only be achieved by removing their right to decided how they will be remunerated - in terms of pay, allowances and pensions. This should be done by a truly independent body nominated by the public (and not by a committee packed with their mates.)
ArtNow, London. UK.

It's not the U turns that are the problem but the policy makers and poor GB can't even tell the difference between good and bad policies. That is a sign of a bad and leaderless PM who is only as good as the cabinet and policy makers - not the smiles, gimmicks or spin. A poor do all round..!
David, Leigh, Lancs.

I think it's incredible that money has to be spent looking into this matter of expenses. Surely it isn't rocket science and is only being made to look like it is because MPs have been caught out fiddling.
Kathy Pearson, Plymtree, UK

The realism is this government lost its touch with reality ages ago. How is it fair MPs can vote themselves pay rises, holidays, pension rules and create and abuse expenses, but everybody else in the country is told, these are your rules, follow them? How is it the government thinks it is acceptable to tell a band of fighting men, who have sworn oath in their service, to serve this country, you have no right to settle here. But if you get off a boat or enter illegally, here is your all expenses paid package deal to stay. Politicians have lost all reality with the public they are supposed to serve. As long as their pockets are being filled, they have no real sense of real duty to the electorate. Bring on a change.
Paul, Peterborough

I think this government is wonderful and nothing should change. GB is great.
Alison

The game is well and truly up for Brown, he knows it and we know it. If the man had any moral fibre and truly understood the will of the British people he would put us above his vain ambition to cling to power and allow us our say in a general election. Go now Mr Brown we have had enough of you and your tired and tedious government.
James, Bristol

This government has for the last 12 years got on by offering promises it has failed to deliver, and on occasions plain simple lies. This Labour and Brown are finished and need to replaced without delay.
Tony Hey, Southport UK

Has Labour "lost its political antennae? No, it's simpler than that, overall government generally is out of control like an undisciplined child. Until it is punished in its entirety, nothing will really change apart from the spin.
Simon Hopkins, Tewkesbury

This government has not just lost its so called "moral compass", it is devoid of any navigational aids whatsoever! If they cared for the country and not for themselves, they would have gone to the country for an election already. They won't, they will cling on, whilst the country suffers, until the last gasp. As they did before.
Danny, Romsey

My view on Blunkett's warning? Just another has-been politician trying to grab the spotlight. It's almost as cringe-inducing as Cameron associating himself with the Gurkha campaign just as it becomes successful. The Tories didn't do much previously I note! Politicians seem to have difficulty in recognising that they have no credibility and are generally regarded with the contempt reserved for bank executives.
Andrew, Birkenhead UK

The problem is not with its political affairs but with a parasite called wars. Once they get rid of this parasite called wars and restore good diplomatic relations Labour may regain momentum. But it seems it's too late. Parties like the Liberal Democrats should be given a chance of leadership while the Conservatives remain as opposition leaders.
Uzoma Ugoji, Barking, Essex

Maybe with all the efforts put into the recession and its effects on everything, they have lost touch with the country and how the people feel about things. The issue of the Gurkhas is a clear example. We all admire and thank these wonderful men for their support when we most needed it and it should have been dealt with properly many years ago (and Mr Cameron your own party is equally to blame here), but it shows how governments can lose touch especially when they've been in power so long, as Mrs Thatcher found out too late. The government must listen to our people and get back to its roots because for any party in power to fail to do that, the doors to no. 10 soon close at election time.
Peter Clack, Oxford

The way that Brown is resorting to political gimmick after political gimmick tells me he is finished (thank heaven). His authority will slowly but certainly ebb away the closer we get to an election as those Labour MPs in marginal seats fear for their jobs.
Geoff Liberty, England

"This question suggests we had confidence in our government. Please inform me when this took place!
LukeAF, Plymouth, Devon"

1997, 2001 and 2005. Happy to oblige.
Kershan, Manchester

David Blunkett saying that others are damaging the Labour party is a bit rich - he has probably done more damage to the party over the years. MPs should not get any second home allowances - but should get accommodation at Westminster if unable to travel back to their constituency.
Alan, Lincoln

This is not recent. Labour stopped representing the will of the people years ago. We need an immediate general election. We need to restore democracy and representation to the UK.
Dave, dystopia, uk

This is probably too little too late from Labour, but whoever gets in power next, will do exactly the same. Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely....
Dave A, Banff, UK

We need Vince Cable's balanced outlook on financial management - and we need a general election to clear the air and end a farcical chronic failure made obvious by the hedging on second homes allowances. The Conservative government in the 1990s fell due to "sleaze" - is this Government's record any better?
K WATSON, STOCKPORT, UK

I guess most of the Labour MPs are not really that concerned as most of them will be in receipt of their P45 in the not too distant future, so I guess they have just been trying to scrape in all they can till then. Brown and Darling are undoubtedly the Laurel and Hardy of politics - just look at the fine mess they have got us all into!
Andrew, England

What we are witnessing is cross-party, unaccountable self-protectionism.
Robert Lowe, Bishopbriggs

Surely MPs should not be voting on their own expenses. There should be a panel of taxpayers who decide.
Sara Bassett, Brighton

Nonsense. This is the correct and inevitable response to someone who has the outright cheek to attempt government by diktat. Brown must go and go soon, none of us wants to witness this lingering death. The project has failed, the project is over. Let's have the Tories back in power ASAP to begin sorting out the massive mess Labour has created yet again.
E Nuff, York

How can we have confidence in MPs deciding their own incomes? This piecemeal approach is a farce just as the whole expenses scandal has been. Brown has to resign.
Chuck Out Charlie, Under the Speaker's Chair

This is in essence another defeat for the government. They agreed to the Young Amendment at the last minute and only because if they didn't they would lose the vote. Now, they have only managed to achieve minor trivial reforms everyone wanted because they amounted to no more than common sense. Labour won nothing and I'm sure their losing streak will continue into next year...
James, York

Most have always been aware of the disgusting abuses of the expenses and second home allowances but the suggestion that MPs should instead be paid thousands just for technically showing up was insane unless the Government wishes to legalise this practice for all employers so we can all benefit. In addition the handling of the Gurkha affair was shameful. We open our borders to hundreds of thousands who have made no contribution to this country and a relative handful who have risked their very lives for this country he tries to exclude. The government seems morally corrupt and no longer has a sense of right and wrong. Much like the society they have been trying to create.
T Reilly, London

Labour lost all credibility when they lost the moral high ground and upset millions of Christians with laws on equality that excluded the views of Christians, so it is no surprise that they are now in such a mess concerning the moral issue of MPs expenses. Their total disregard for the ordinary people of this country, in their lust to destroy our culture and our people but reward themselves is truly the worst behaviour of any government I can remember. It is a case of do as I say, but not as I do. They have no credibility whatsoever left, and the sooner they are gone the better.
Janet Shaw, Romford

This is Blunkett, the man who had to resign twice from the cabinet for questionable behaviour. I don't think we need to hear any more from him.
Herbert, London, England

You do get the feeling that the Labour party are going to hang Brown out to dry so a fresh start can be claimed once he loses the next election...(that is if he doesn't get ousted before then).
CG, Leeds

PM is trying to look as if he is doing something about a situation he realises is damaging Labour's image. What he seems to forget is it is not just expenses that is damaging Labour's image. Although why has it taken this one thing to get enough people of the UK to be outraged, when there have been much worse things to get outraged about? You get what you vote for. You get what you deserve.
Paul, Lichfield

Remove all restrictions on party funding and make THEM pay MPs' salary and expenses. Then they can fiddle as much as they want and it doesn't cost us anything.
John Barker, Mazarron, Spain

Like the song: 'Time to Say Goodbye'
Steven Beasley, Hebden Bridge

The Labour Government has not lost its political antennae. It never had any to start with! These are not the first votes they have lost because they did not listen to their own back benchers.
Jeff Powell, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire

Brown never had authority in the first place. He's never won an election and he bottled out of one late last year. New Labour are finished. They've done so much damage to this country that it's impossible to say whether this country can recover again. I've never known politicians to be so unpopular in my lifetime.
Peter Alsop, Calne, Wiltshire, UK

This government had lost its way at the last election, much as the Tories had when Labour came to power in 1997. I don't believe anything Parliament does now will restore confidence in that body. I believe an entire restructuring of the way the country is run, through devolution of power and taxation away from central government to local communities is required. Otherwise in eight to 10 years' time we will have the same problem with the next group in power.
Michael Harding, Penshurst, Kent

A discredited govt with absolutely no moral compass whatsoever. The budget was pure "politics" when bold national strategies were needed. Just in case "Little Darlin' needs to know - strategic planning lasts beyond the next election. The YouTube "answer" to MPs expenses was just "grab a headline at any price" politics. New Labour is Old Labour but without any thread of honesty - Brown has set the tone and his lackeys have followed the example - rotten from top to bottom.
Dissector, Stirling

We all know what happens to horrible creepy crawlies that lose their antennae - they can't 'see' where they are going and get crushed underfoot. Where are my boots?
Alan Ford, Gloucestershire, UK

It's too late, the same MPs who have been ripping us off for years will still find a way. Have they changed? No! They are corrupt and everyone knows it. The whole political system needs to be revised and that includes voting. MPs should be local people, not cronies, friends or family placed in guaranteed seats.
KP A sigh for England, Thurso

It's been ebbing away since the lies over the Iraq war. Then Brown is installed as a leader without any reference to the voting public. Despite promising a vote on the Lisbon treaty we do not get one. We do get meltdown in the banking system under New Labours watch of 12 years, with bankers still getting their fat rewards and despite everyone struggling in this recession, politicians grab every penny out of expense claims. Now in desperate last minute tinkering to allowances New Labour are hoping to soothe the public. They really haven't a clue.
T Newman, Bournemouth UK

The Government has been spiralling out of control due to the incompetence, lack of leadership, lack of policy direction and most importantly the disastrous public finances they have put the country in. Now everyone, including their own MPs, are starting to realise that this government is bad for the country and needs to go, now, before they cause any more damage. Call an election Gordon.
Martin Callan, London

Too right it has... I voted Labour in 1997 because they're supposed to be "the good guys". Twelve years later, I'm less secure on the street despite having my every move recorded by the state, my journey to work costs me much more and the country I used to be proud of participated in an illegal invasion that's cost 87,000 lives to date. To say I'm disgusted is a massive understatement.
Paul, Canterbury

It is time the New Labour elders took Brown to one side and told him that he cannot possibly last another year in power. Tony Blair was dead set against Brown being PM and how right he was. Even Brown's performance as Chancellor has been proved to be a total sham. He cannot be allowed to carry on running this country into the ground. There must be a mechanism for removing him from his position as PM. We are a democracy after all - not a dictatorship; but that is what it is feeling like at the moment.
Brian Gare, Norfolk Gorleston

Has the Labour Party lost its political antennae, you ask. Not only that. It has lost its way, lost its marbles, lost its conscience, lost its virginity, lost its majority and shortly will have lost the next general election. Spoken as a 40 year Labour Party member (ex).
Brian Jones, Wallsend, UK

Get back to 'old fashioned politics'? How about going back to old fashioned government?
Mark Lewis, London UK

This country is just a shambles. I honestly believe we need to hit the restart button and start over with a new structure.
Thomas, Norwich

Gordon Brown was right when he said on YouTube that it should be abolished, irrespective of how much noise MPs or the media make to divert attention away from it. The voters are intelligent enough to understand this and will not be distracted by the MP revolt against Brown. The key thing is the expenses and it should be solved sooner rather than later. And we will be watching who is voting for or against in each vote.
Mathew Kuriakose, Elstree, England

This is rich.... coming from the man who, in October 2004 (with virtually no publicity) signed away the UK's right to veto over asylum, immigration and border control policies... in effect handing our border control over to the EU.
Bottomless_Pit, Newcastle

Yes. They are completely down the pan, which saddens me as I've always voted for them. The Tories are even worse however - I'll be voting Lib Dem next time, as I'd like them to be as powerful as possible to counteract the Tories. Labour need to completely change - throw out all the top ranks of the party and start being decent again.
Dan Norcott, UK

Seems to me all politicians lose the ability to understand the electorate when they have been in power too long. It happened under Thatcher/Major and now it's happened under Blair/Brown. Perhaps we should force a change of party every 5 years or so?
Terry Haynes, Epsom, England

The worrying thing is that when there is another election there will be millions of fools who will still vote for him. Be worried the people put them there.
parlovero, reading. England

Labour is now completely out of touch with real people. They still don't understand people's anger. To the public they are nothing more than thieves mugging the taxpayer.
Joseph Crosby, London, UK

Considering that the BBC news website also says that a group of MPs admit that "Bankers made 'astonishing mess'" which was due entirely to Brown's negligence in creating the City regulations the banks worked to so one must conclude that his political antenna were lopped off several years ago, or perhaps he was born without any, and was deliberately chosen by Blair because he was so politically impotent?
Paul J. Weighell, Purley

Labour's political antennae haven't been lost: snouts are pushed so far into troughs that they've become buried in the food...
Mark McClemont, Reading, UK

This Government has lost its way completely. They have ruined our pensions, ruined our savings, ruined our jobs, ruined our businesses, ruined our grandchildren's future with the most catastrophic debt in history. This is the only correct statement I have ever heard Blunkett say. Labour are a dysfunctional Party and have consigned their future to the dustbin of history for the next 50 years.
BGarvie, Reading

Far from being paid a daily rate to attend the Commons, MPs should be paid [reasonable] expenses less a fine for Commons debates they do not attend. It's quite unacceptable to me sometimes to see 20 or 30 MPs in the chamber debating important matters.
Andy, Sutton, Surrey

They have forgotten how to lead and who they serve. I have voted Labour all my life. Not next time. They need a lesson and yes, I'm prepared to boot them out if that's what it takes.
Will Smith, Oxford

Labour have had too much power for too long and it has corrupted them. They now believe their own spin. Having said that, there is no credible alternative either. I guess we are pretty much doomed!
Tim Westlake, London

Labour lost its moral authority from day 1 when it employed tactics of spin and populism. The greed of MP's over expenses signifies a total disconnect from reality. Brown looks and increasingly acts like Hugo Chavez and will do and say anything to stay in power. Watch out for more expense revelations.
Disgusted Voter, Aldershot UK

Mr Brown is a 'goner', may be by the autumn but certainly by the next election. In the meantime just watch how more and more Labour heavyweights like Blunkett will be declaring: 'Gordon Brown, who on earth is he, I have nothing to do with his policies or decisions'. All in the hope that some of them might get re-elected and not seen as even partly responsible for the electoral disaster that awaits Labour. Confidence will return when an election is announced, just watch the stock market jump up.
Dr Glyn Charlesworth, Reading, UK

The decision should be taken out of the hands of politicians who seem to be motivated purely be self-interest. While some of us are struggling to pay our rent, MPs are focussed on how much money they can extract from the taxpayer.
Kathryn Rimmington, Portsmouth, Hants

I wonder what Blunkett means by 'old fashioned politics'? Does he mean getting back to the days when governments had a modicum of respect, when the rhetoric they preached was half believed and when no one asked probing questions about the conduct of MPs and the way in which the House of Commons operates? If that is what he means, then let's NOT get back to old-fashioned politics.
Eddieburnham, UK

It is too late for Grim Gordon to start drawing lines in the sand. He has completely and utterly blown it. Right from the days when he ruined the private pension schemes and sold our gold reserves at the bottom of the market. His long term bickering with and briefing against Tony Blair shows a deep love of scheming and disloyalty. His lies about the referendum on the Lisbon Treaty alone warrant his impeachment for treason. The time is long overdue for him to do the decent thing and to call a General Election.
W D Tolman, Walkington, East Yorkshire

I think Brown is losing the plot. When he comes on TV now he seems to be detached, just talking whilst is mind is preoccupied elsewhere. It almost seems he has come to believe his own hype and infallibility spin. As to the YouTube video, well who was he trying to convince of what? I am starting to feel sorry for him.
Dan d Lyon, behind the wire

I would like someone from HMRC to respond to my question which is: Why are the rules governing personal allowances and expenses different (and far more generous) than they are for the average working man.
Mr Angry, PC Lahlah Land

Labour lost its political antenna the moment it put in GB as PM. He is no better at being PM than he was as chancellor, and he was obviously not in touch with the real world then. TB is also to blame, he should have advised the party against GB, but showed his weakness.
Bryan Summers, Chesham, Bucks

The government has never been in touch with the views of the average man or woman in the street. They do what they want regardless of public opinion.
Paul Bennett, Liverpool

If the populace think there's a viable alternative waiting to take over then they're ignorant of or ignoring recent history.
Alexis Wolfe, Harlech, Cymru

We should not pay any attention whatsoever to a person who said "airy fairy civil liberties" when he was Home Secretary.
Heinrich Blunkett

We have a PM who is stubborn and will not listen to anyone else- need I say more!
Chris Tilling, Hereford, UK

Blunkett is opining what the UK population is thinking. However, it's too late to draw any lines in the sand, most people are fed up with this government and this unelected prime minister. It's time to give the electorate a say and go to the polls!
Colin, Durham

I am not a bit surprised. Our MPs do not consider their task to serve the people. All they care about is how much can I make off their backs. Anyway it would mean having to forgo the trough by taking time to vote.
Alfred Crispin

This government lost their way a long time ago. Their blind following of the US in Iraq was the beginning of the end for the Labour government. This country needs a government who are clear and transparent in all of their dealings; we need a government who will demonstrate some measure of moral and political focus, who acts as servants instead of masters, and who put the best interests of the people of this nation first.
Paul Cook, United Kingdom

Asking MPs to vote on expenses was always going to be a case of asking poacher to become gamekeeper so yesterday's result can hardly be called a 'win' for Brown.
Garthwaite Watts, Wokingham

The second homes fiasco is a complete distraction. This failed government has been wrapped up in its own agenda ever since Blair was elected. They have sought to manipulate the news, misinform the electorate, smear their opponents, bury bad news and generally act like the worst of the old Soviet governments ever since 1997. A change of government is the only solution, not a change of behaviour for the current government.
Richard, Bristol

The last dying throes of an incompetent government completely dead on the water. I have been a Labour supporter for over 45 years and the thought of this immoral, corrupt inept bunch of idiots running the country another day terrifies me. I never thought I'd live to see the day when I have decide to vote Tory in the next election. Brown and his entire rabble that calls itself a government should resign NOW!!!
Maximus, Boxgrove

Confidence will be restored when Gordon Brown resigns and calls an election, not before. An e-petition to Downing St is asking him to do this. Confidence has gone over a whole range of issues, not just this one, if it was ever there in the first place.
Rosemary Alabaster, Assisi Italy

The changes (tinkering) don't go anywhere near far enough. Furthermore, to instill some much needed confidence & more importantly, trust in the public they should not be allowed the ludicrous decision to decide their own pay rises let alone purchasing items that are not related to their job. An independent body should deal with it. If they did this they would be far less criticised.
Steve Mills, Dulwich, SE London

Fantastic! This reform is needed. What is frankly embarrassing is that MPs are not required to turn up to the majority of meetings, meaning that some bills are voted on by very few MPs. Furthermore, MPs don't turn up to discuss pressing issues concerning the environment, disabilities, international aid and so on. It is ludicrous and, moreover, it further undermines the ridiculous notion that the UK is a democracy. MPs should be paid by the day so that they actually go to parliament and fulfil their duties to their country and show that they actually care.
Leo, Coventry

This issue is very very simple. They should claim expenses like any other taxpayer who is self-employed or a small business. They should present receipts and records for inspection just like any other taxpayer is required to do if asked. If they are found claiming for things that are not legitimate they should be prosecuted. To imply it's more complicated than this or that they are MPs therefore need different treatment is insulting to the intelligence of the electorate and basically obfuscation. There is simply no justification to having two different sets of rules. If they want a relaxed expenses regime then it should apply to everyone not just those who consider themselves the privileged elite at Westminster.
Anon, York

MPs will still be able to rake in a sizeable fee/wage. Those that live in London will just buy a flat outside London and be able to claim a large sum, exploiting the loophole. There is nothing about their pension which is not peanuts. MPs should be paid a annual wage of a flat £50,000 regardless of position within the party. Pensions should be based on the length of service in politics. That way there would be a incentive to serve the public to secure re-election thus accruing more pension funds. It is absurd that MPs are showing concern for Fred the Shreds pension when they are just as bad.
Peter Morffew, Bishop Stortford

This question suggests we had confidence in our government. Please inform me when this took place!
LukeAF, Plymouth, Devon

They're dragging their heels on this so they can work out how to exploit the next system they put in place - we're not all daft!
Matt Mackenzie, Kendal

How can we be certain that the changes are fair since the people coming up with them and the people voting on the changes are the people who benefit from the money? This is one thing that the electorate ought to have an input; afterall it's our money they are spending on porn and patio heaters.
Rebecca Bradbury, Exeter

This has only been done to reduce the expected taxpayer outcries that will undoubtedly occur when MPs' expenses claims and receipts are made public in the coming weeks. They should be charged with fraud, if they are found to have ripped-off the system, just like most other people would have been treated. And why are they still allowed to keep their second home allowances? It's a disgrace.
Peter, Ulverston

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