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Blunkett issues warning to Labour Blunkett issues warning to Labour
(about 3 hours later)
Labour must avoid self-inflicted wounds and get back to old-fashioned politics, former Home Secretary David Blunkett is to warn party activists. Labour must "avoid self-inflicted wounds" and "get back to old-fashioned politics", former Home Secretary David Blunkett has warned the party.
In a speech to activists later, he will suggest the instincts that kept Labour in power are rapidly being lost. Mr Blunkett told the Guardian newspaper that Gordon Brown must "draw a line in the sand" after his recent setbacks.
Public trust has been hit by rows over smears and MPs' expenses, he will say. Labour "has lost its political antennae and needs to get them back", he said.
The Tories say the government is losing authority after withdrawing a key expenses proposal and losing a Commons vote over Gurkhas this week.The Tories say the government is losing authority after withdrawing a key expenses proposal and losing a Commons vote over Gurkhas this week.
One cabinet minister privately considers it "Labour's worst week", says BBC political correspondent Reeta Chakrabarti.One cabinet minister privately considers it "Labour's worst week", says BBC political correspondent Reeta Chakrabarti.
Mr Blunkett's speech is to "deliver a timely warning" to the party, our correspondent adds. Mr Blunkett told the newspaper: "Gordon Brown needs to draw a line in the sand now, not after the European elections in five weeks' time.
He will suggest public confidence in Labour has been eroded by issues such as the row over e-mails by a No 10 aide about suggested smearing of Conservatives, and controversial MPs' expenses claims. "Labour has lost its political antennae and needs to get them back. We have no underlying domestic social policy. There is a void at present."
These damaging events require "a line to be drawn", Mr Blunkett will say. That was why, he said, the party had suffered a series of damaging events, such as the row over e-mails by a No 10 aide about suggested smearing of Conservatives, and controversy surrounding MPs' expenses claims.
Shock defeat 'Heads up'
Our correspondent says the speech will also be constructive, praising the Budget as tough and honest, while pointing to a need for visionary action. "We have got to get our heads up again," Mr Blunkett said.
Mr Blunkett will be addressing activists the day after the government won a series of votes on planned MPs' expenses reforms, having agreed to delay a decision on controversial second homes allowances. "We have got to get back to old-fashioned politics that's in touch with people we seek to represent and avoid self-inflicted wounds."
It did not put forward a proposal for a flat-rate daily expense for attending Parliament. In a speech to party activists later, Mr Blunkett will suggest the instincts that kept Labour in power are rapidly being lost.
The government dropped the proposal, amid opposition from the Conservatives, Lib Dems and some Labour MPs, less than a week after the prime minister had announced the plan on the internet. Mr Blunkett's speech is to "deliver a timely warning" to the party, our correspondent says.
She adds that it will also be constructive, praising the Budget as tough and honest, while pointing to a need for visionary action.
Mr Blunkett's comments come the day after the government won a series of votes on planned MPs' expenses reforms, having agreed to delay a decision on controversial second homes allowances.
It did not put forward a proposal for a flat-rate daily expense for attending Parliament as originally proposed by the prime minister.
The government dropped the proposal, amid opposition from the Conservatives, Lib Dems and some Labour MPs, less than a week after Mr Brown had announced the plan on the internet.
On Wednesday, the government suffered a shock Commons defeat on its policy of restricting the right of many former Gurkhas to settle in the UK.On Wednesday, the government suffered a shock Commons defeat on its policy of restricting the right of many former Gurkhas to settle in the UK.
Conservative leader David Cameron has said "authority is ebbing away from this government by the day".Conservative leader David Cameron has said "authority is ebbing away from this government by the day".