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Blunkett issues warning to Labour Clarke 'ashamed' to be Labour MP
(about 2 hours later)
Gordon Brown must quickly regain the political initiative after a week of serious setbacks, former Home Secretary David Blunkett has warned. Former Home Secretary Charles Clarke has told the BBC recent events have made him "ashamed" to be a Labour MP.
Mr Blunkett told the BBC Labour's leadership should have seen the Commons rebellion over Gurkha rights coming and must show more "old-fashioned nous". Mr Clarke said he had "worked half my life to get Labour into a position where it could be a good government and I do see that fading away".
But he said Gordon Brown would lead the party into the next general election.
It comes as ex-home secretary David Blunkett warned of a "catastrophic" collapse in trust and urged Mr Brown to regain the political initiative.
Mr Blunkett told the BBC that Labour's leadership should have seen the Commons rebellion over Gurkha rights coming and must show more "old-fashioned nous".
It must also show it can engage with the public on "grass-roots issues"It must also show it can engage with the public on "grass-roots issues"
The Tories say Mr Brown is fast losing authority after the Gurkha defeat and withdrawing a key expenses proposal.The Tories say Mr Brown is fast losing authority after the Gurkha defeat and withdrawing a key expenses proposal.
'Worst week''Worst week'
BBC political correspondent Reeta Chakrabarti said one cabinet minister privately considers the events of the past few days "Labour's worst week".BBC political correspondent Reeta Chakrabarti said one cabinet minister privately considers the events of the past few days "Labour's worst week".
Two unnamed senior cabinet ministers are quoted in the Daily Telegraph warning that Mr Brown has lost control of Labour MPs and the party is heading for as big a defeat as that suffered by John Major's Conservatives in 1997.Two unnamed senior cabinet ministers are quoted in the Daily Telegraph warning that Mr Brown has lost control of Labour MPs and the party is heading for as big a defeat as that suffered by John Major's Conservatives in 1997.
In a speech on Friday, Mr Blunkett will say the political instincts which have sustained Labour in power for 12 years are in danger of being lost as it stumbles from one crisis to the next.In a speech on Friday, Mr Blunkett will say the political instincts which have sustained Labour in power for 12 years are in danger of being lost as it stumbles from one crisis to the next.
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programmeFROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme
He told the Today programme the party needed to show more "collective leadership and responsibility" and focus on issues which showed it was in touch with people's concerns.He told the Today programme the party needed to show more "collective leadership and responsibility" and focus on issues which showed it was in touch with people's concerns.
Labour should have anticipated the opposition among many of its MPs to its policy to limit Gurkha settlement rights, which led to the first major Commons defeat of Mr Brown's premiership.Labour should have anticipated the opposition among many of its MPs to its policy to limit Gurkha settlement rights, which led to the first major Commons defeat of Mr Brown's premiership.
"You could feel it in the ether," he said. "You could taste it.""You could feel it in the ether," he said. "You could taste it."
Mr Blunkett said Mr Brown had done an "extraordinary job" over the global recession and denied he had been personally weakened by his climbdown over the main plank of his proposed changes to MP's expenses - reform of second home allowances. Mr Blunkett said Mr Brown had done an "extraordinary job" over the global recession and denied he had been personally weakened by his climb-down over the main plank of his proposed changes to MP's expenses - reform of second home allowances.
He added: "Actually over the last two years I've been a better ally than some of the self-proclaimed allies that put Gordon as prime minister. And I'll continue doing so, because we are in this together."He added: "Actually over the last two years I've been a better ally than some of the self-proclaimed allies that put Gordon as prime minister. And I'll continue doing so, because we are in this together."
Mr Blunkett said it was "nonsense" that Mr Brown was defeated over the expenses issue being referred to Sir Christopher Kelly.Mr Blunkett said it was "nonsense" that Mr Brown was defeated over the expenses issue being referred to Sir Christopher Kelly.
But he said Labour needed to show it could "engage" with people on issues other than the economy and show that it had a vision of a "better tomorrow".But he said Labour needed to show it could "engage" with people on issues other than the economy and show that it had a vision of a "better tomorrow".
"Of course we will be judged by what we have done in terms of dealing with the economic crisis.""Of course we will be judged by what we have done in terms of dealing with the economic crisis."
"But we will actually be judged on our vision for the next 10 to 15 years.""But we will actually be judged on our vision for the next 10 to 15 years."
Amid growing criticism of Gordon Brown's leadership and judgement, Mr Blunkett said he and other Labour MPs would "make their voices heard but as supportively as possible".Amid growing criticism of Gordon Brown's leadership and judgement, Mr Blunkett said he and other Labour MPs would "make their voices heard but as supportively as possible".
'Political antennae''Political antennae'
In an interview with the Guardian, Mr Blunkett said Gordon Brown must "draw a line in the sand" after the week's setbacks straight away and "avoid self-inflicted wounds".In an interview with the Guardian, Mr Blunkett said Gordon Brown must "draw a line in the sand" after the week's setbacks straight away and "avoid self-inflicted wounds".
Labour "has lost its political antennae and needs to get them back", he said.Labour "has lost its political antennae and needs to get them back", he said.
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.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.
"We have got to get our heads up again," he continued."We have got to get our heads up again," he continued.
"We have got to get back to old-fashioned politics that's in touch with people we seek to represent.""We have got to get back to old-fashioned politics that's in touch with people we seek to represent."
Mr Blunkett warned that Labour had "no underlying domestic social policy," adding: "There is a void at present".Mr Blunkett warned that Labour had "no underlying domestic social policy," adding: "There is a void at present".
Mr Blunkett's comments come the day after the government won a series of votes on MPs' expenses reforms, having agreed to delay a decision on controversial second homes allowances.Mr Blunkett's comments come the day after the government won a series of votes on 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.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.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".