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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Your comments:

Me and my partner have just had out first child, and we are struggling big time, as we are receiving very little help from the government. I have paid taxes the past few years for nothing! for it to be paid back to people who work in banks and cant do their jobs properly...its a complete outrage. MP's spend thousands and thousands on their expenses, but do they really need them?? No! I survive, so why can't they!!
Mathew Mynett, Burntwood, Staffordshire

I am convinced that behind the scenes, Labour has already thrown in the towel on the next election. They are now committed to a "scorched Earth" policy of causing as much damage as possible to the country and economy. They hope that this will cause so many problems for the Tory government, that they will win the 2014/2015 election. The public need to see through this.
James Steel, Lancashire, UK

I might be wrong, but aren't we all paid salaries to turn up for work? And when I had business in London, I went on the train, stayed in a hotel and presented receipts to my manager to be reimbursed. What's so difficult about that?
Chris, Sheffield

The second homes allowance must be abolished. MPs who live within 2 hours commuting distance of London should receive the same as any other worker in London receives- nothing and they should be expected to pay their own travel expenses. They should come into the real world! MPs who live further afield should be able to claim reasonable travel and accommodation expenses but receipts must be submitted.
JHR, Haslemere, UK

I flicked over to Beeb Parliament Channel a few times during the debate, not more than 20 MPs debating expenses. The rest must have been filling out claim forms.
Paul, London, UK

Sack them all and replace them with people who truly want make a difference
Angela Wheaton, Mitcham, Surrey

We urgently need proportional representation in this country. And we need a formula which does NOT simply replicate the existing power structure. I am utterly sick of politicians of all stripes and am especially contemptuous of career politicians. True representation of the electorate's desires would see a dramatic shift in political power. For that very reason it will never happen.
Lord Trumpington, Oxford

In general it is not good for any party to win three terms. New Labour has run its course, there are no new ideas and Brown spends all his time fighting the recession, which is, in part, of his own making. Meanwhile, the government fiddles while UK burns and MPs enrich themselves. Time to go Gordo!
David Walsh, London

Party politics have destroyed all British political parties they put their party before that of the people.
David, Wakefield

I feel like I've been lied to on an epic scale by a government far more obsessed with spin than fact. I also feel like our elected government has treated its citizens with the utmost contempt. It'll be a generation before I'll even consider voting Labour again.
Paul, Canterbury

So much power has been illegally and immorally given away to the EU that parliament has become a side-show and all that is left to do is bicker over how much they pay themselves. By the way, what is a "home security"?
Peter S, Sandy GB

GB should be given an Oscar for his performance on YouTube. He was more sinister than the Joker in Batman. But the joke is now on him. In each and every thing that he did, just look at the results. He will say one thing and does another. Even diehard Labourites are beginning to doubt, and here is the man they put on a podium with "clunking fists"..what a joke. But, he will bribe and scheme, and will get the millions to vote for him to stay in power not necessarily for the good of our country though.
William, London

Labour has lost it at the moment. I have voted Labour all my working life and I was sick to my stomach recently. I do believe it is time for Mr Brown to go. I would like the chance to vote on a new leader. But if had to voice an opinion I would go for Ms Harman. We need a new change and it is about time we had a woman in charge for a change!
Howard, Hertfordshire

I think people should show some support. They could not do a better job. Like I always say: "Nothing is ever easy."
Peter Mann, East Anglia

It is interesting to see a Downing Street spokesperson saying that Mr Brown is "focusing on addressing the needs of the people of the UK". Well our needs are that Mr Brown should go, go now with dignity and leave it to someone who can lead with respect and authority.
Adrian Tattersley, Wakefield, West Yorkshire

Just go... It has reached the point where we are all just waiting to find out what our self serving government has done now. Brown still won't use the banks we own properly and probably has no more ideas left. Welcome to Cool Britannia, morally and financially bankrupt.
Jules, Bognor, UK

In a recession we all suffer. For reasons I am unable to fathom, our beloved Members of Parliament believe they should suffer less. I presume there is obviously a very valid reason. The differential between the rich and poor may at the moment be narrowing but obviously not for these people. If being an MP is so financially burdensome, why don't they resign. I apologise for my naivety. As for putting the electorate before corporate demands, I have a feeling it may be too late.
Scott Greenwood, Potters Bar. Hertfordshire

A long, long time ago I fear. Quite simply they have betrayed the working class - their core support - in order to cling onto power. Why this nation, confused with middle-class nonsense, fails to see this is unclear! The middle-class do not exist - if you have to get up in the morning to go to work (for those of you lucky enough to have a job)then be in no doubt - the operative word here is work, you are working class!
David Grant, Winchester, Hants

Okay New Labour has destroyed the country and will go at the next election. Query, do you trust any of the other parties to lead the country. To me, there isn't anyone capable of leading us through the mess we are in.
Jad, Liverpool

This government lurches from one crisis to the next. What's more worrying they don't seem to care. More worrying still is that other parties won't be any different. They're all in it for themselves, with the possible exception of Dennis Skinner!
FabAt50, Sheffield

Blunkett's warning comes too late. They don't need expenses, some have second jobs which they shouldn't have time to do, plus they get over the top salaries and pension deals
Roger Bennett, Ellesmere Shropshire

It is clear once again that Labour have only achieved a 'victory' through spin and avoiding the difficult issues. The sooner they admit that Brown has no authority and call a general election the better for the UK.
Tim, Burton, UK

The government should buy a couple of London hotels for use by MPs while in London. No second home allowances. No daily allowances. Any profits made on current second homes should go back to the state. MPs' expenses should be open to public view and only paid on receipts.
Keith Flook, Ferryhill

HYS not working? Start a reader's poll on the issue!! These used to be used all the time on the BBC website... bring them back! Option 1 for this topic is obviously "should the government call an election?" Come on beeb! Shake off that government oppression!
Tim, Scotland

Say what you want about Labour and say what you want about the Tories and Liberals - they're all much the same. Corporate-driven and out for themselves and their greedy Corporate friends while the low to mid earners are milked and enslaved for all they are worth.
Totally Brownedoff, The Sorry State of Britain

I think it's the point of no return for this government now. Brown just seems so remote from the public feeling happening in the country and the rest of them are happy to seemingly impose their views on us I think. In the end people won't be convinced until there's a complete change of personnel and attitude in the Labour party.
Anthony V, Basingstoke

The issue of expenses and second homes must be taken out of the hands of MPs and decided by an independent body based on Non profit making Fairness Value for tax payers money
Dave, Peterborough

Another example of the total incompetence of this bankrupt government. And do you know what annoys me the most? It's that I am now effectively disenfranchised. I am a socialist- and there's no one for me to vote for. I can't vote Conservative. Lib Dems are wibbly-wobbly on everything and Nu Lab are bereft of any saving graces.
Shortfatbaldy, Pershore

Can you not see that politicians know that there will be an election soon and they are all beginning to act like a pack of savage dogs and trying to pull the Labour government apart. If they can smell blood they will go into a frenzy. Can you lot not see that they think that the electorate are a bunch of simple idiots that don't see it or get it? Wake Up. They are all the same - promise, promise, promise, just tell the thickos anything for now as they will forget or be fooled into something else as memories are short. All of you get a life Please and Wake Up.
Mr Grunt, London

Brown never had an antennae. Blair for some reason, Iraq excepted, seemed to have it. But with Brown it's his way is "The Right Thing To Do" and nothing else is acceptable.
Neil MS, Guildford UK

All MPs from all sides should be ashamed of themselves, the expenses row is the final straw, they should have stopped claiming for extras years ago, no employer or employee would allow for this to happen, they should live on there wage the same as the rest of us, maybe that's why there all so out of touch, lets sack the lot, and then vote for people that will represent the people that put them there, nothing will ever change, we still have 3 parties all virtually the same.
Steve Lord, Basingstoke

Does it matter which political party you vote for? Everyone is on the gravy train including the House of Lords. I've lost all faith in democracy with the whole bunch of spongers. I wish I could claim all the allowances these crowd seem to gain. For me it's receipts, travel lodges and limited expenditure and unless I abide by strict rules I don't get my expenses back or at worst I get fired for milking the system...unlike others. It's time these lot were totally accountable and lost seats mean lost jobs not several jobs in the city as non executive directors.
BS, South Wales

The Labour party once stood for Joe Public: the average working man. Reminding us of this fact shows how much this government has lost it way.
Eddie P, Leicester

I do not want to be governed by the same old Etonian-Tory toffs, those days should have been over. I see nothing at Westminster for the average person and I see no real hope of things ever changing if we flip over to clueless Cameron, only to return to Labour again in ten years time - as we will.
John Pearce, Bolton

I think a daily attendance rate looks a good idea, if it replaces their salary and perks!
Margaret Barrett, Swindon, Wiltshire

The Gurkha settlement rights issue just proves what Brown and co are like. It has to be over and out for them and the sooner the better.
Tony M, Crewe

The entire political class MPs, councillors and Civil Servants has lost touch with normal people. They spend half their lives wasting money on potty 'student union' politics … and the other half lining their own pockets. This is the unfortunate results on policies based on polls, focus groups etc. These inevitably over represent those with the most leisure time i.e. Benefit claimants, council employees, stay at home parents, students etc. Those who actually work, and who's taxes keep everyone alive, are largely excluded from the political process.
Mark K, London, UK

Yes, but it would be harsh just to say Labour is out of touch. In my view political parties in general do not fully appreciate what they are there for and who they are there for. OK, Blunkett says it is not vitally important, a mere distraction. But MPs expenses is a superb example of where they go wrong every time. They are all a bunch of crooks.
FWR, Nottingham

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