Why doesn't the government buy an appartment block where MP's can stay when they are in London? Then they wouldn't need to buy second homes to make huge profits on at our expense.

CA, Manchester, UK

For what they do, MPs earn very little. Comparing their pay and expenses with the city, they do very badly.

If you want quality people to be attracted to politics, you need to pay quality money.

Cronan, London, UK

Most of us tax payers can only dream of owning plazma screen TVs from John Lewis. It beggars belief that Don Touhig thinks that us buying them for MPs counts as supporting the cost of their job.

John, Manchester,

Gordon is a hypocrite, as he didn't bother to vote on an important issue. He was absent as usual. The elections are not far away now

david, Birmingham, uk

What reason could there possible be for MPs not to provide receipts to cover their purchases? All of us in the real world have to do this.

And to compare themselves to head teachers, police superintendents and the like! They are living in their own world - one completely devoid of reality.

Anne Powell, Portsmouth, UK

Wouldn't it be funny if nobody in the UK bothered to vote at the next General Election!

Barry, London, UK

Are the rumours true? That some of these thieving toe rags have been using your taxes and mine to spend NOT on second homes but on THIRD and FOURTH homes to be sold on at a profit. Refusing to publish addresses of second homes ...... the perfect way to hide this fraud?

John L Bell, Ellesmere Port, England

Gordon was so concerned about this 'important issue' that he didn't bother to travel the 200 yards from Downing Street to Westminster to cast a vote. I think we all know where his sympathies and priorities lie - and it isn't with the hard-working taxpayer!

Donna Walker, Effingham, England

Poor Gordon - surely most of us buy a new home and then get our publicly funded employers to buy us a new kitchen from John Lewis? Who can be expected to choose a home with a decent kitchen in the first place - particularly those who claim to need more pay in order to take such 'mega decisions'.

Peter Weavers, Talgarth, Wales

And this is the House that continuously scrutinises/crticises the the Royal family and demands to see their books. It's a different story now isn't it? Obviously the rules don't apply to them. Shame!!

Mark, Plymouth,

If GB cannot even get his own aides to support his views then perhaps he should consider a different vocation. Not showing up for the vote that is strong leadership! If you wanted change showing up might have been a start, seems to me you wanted the status quo but not the grief in the election

Jason Pearson, Toronto, Canada

If our so-called Prime Minister was so keen to have these reforms passed why didn't he give them the same attention, and possible manipulation/bribe, that he gave to the 42-day detention laws? He was nowhere near Parliament, which indicates they were well down his list of priorities.

Neil, Gloucestershire, England

MPs have traditionally worked hard to feather their own nests at the expense of taxpayers. The only accountability is public shame (irrelevant, since they have none) and elections. Underlying this is the fundamental flaw of encouraging professional politicians. We were better served by amateurs.

richard, horley,

If Broon is so dissapointed perhaps he should have shown up.

My MP didn't turn up to vote. Yet another example of his sitting on the fence. He has lost my vote.

Paul, Loughborough, UK

Don't they have to pay tax on the expenses which are not exclusively and necessarily incurred through their employment.

I'm talking about the "John Lewis List" here not the salaries of the genuine support staff.

Nick, London, UK

well, I am so surprised.

Keith Southall, Stockholm, Sweden

If Gordon really wanted the vote to go the right way, why didn't he apply the same pressure he applied over the 42 day detention vote? Perhaps he knew that MPs would happily surrender our civil liberties, but would never surrender their chance to plunder the tax payers' pockets!

Dave, London, UK

So "disappointed" he couldn't be bothered to vote...

Thomas Irvine, London, UK

" Downing St. was disappointed "....... Broon and Bust didn't vote and 30 Govt. Ministers did.....to keep them!! What a Leader!

B Newton, Redland, UK

Brown says he supports the reforms but fails to vote. Voting against are 2 of his aides & 33 ministers.,the most senior being Jacqui Smith who refused the police arbitration award! All this whilst Brown forces long term, less than inflation pay settlements on the UK's poorest public sector workers.

Tony, LONDON, u

So overall they are better off then. How typical, 'feeling your pain' indeed. All these 'essentials' like Plasma TVs and second homes they keep, milking the system. They should have one apartment complex by Parliament for the lot. Yours whilst in power, kicked out for the new MP when you lose power.

Anthony, Brum,

We do not get value for money from MP's .
MP's should be forced to take whats offered them. or get rid of them.
they already earn more than they are worth.
Euro MP's and british MP's are ripping this country off by not doing there jobs properly and claiming unnecessary expenses for there betterment.

Petr Clutton, Wrexham, Wales

My MP (a pps) voted against changes and for the status quo.
She is now my ex MP come the next election.

Howard, Basildon, England

more than half of MP's couldnt be bothered to vote. that included the PM. they should be paid by attendance, not salary

Phil, stirling,

“I think most fair-minded people ....London requires an allowance to support that cost.”
I wholeheartedly agree with that but i don't see how ipods ,flat screen plasmas and land sculpting are essential to maintain a second home?? A Tax payer

Jim, Hemel,

All aboard the gravy train! Whooooooo Whhhhhoooo.

steve tea, manchester, cheshire

Peter: 1) Brussels legislates over less than 40% of issues. 2) Brussels gives "directives" which are "goals to reach", not laws. It is then the national parliament that must adopt a law to reach those goals. Different countries can apply the same directivive adopting different laws.

Horace, Firenze (Florence), Italy

They're behaving like the pigs in Animal Farm. It would be farcical were it not so repugnant.

Ben P., Robertsbidge, East Sussex

I'd like my expenses paid, too. I work away from home as a freelancer - it would be crazy to uproot my family to follow what may be short term contracts but the government would tax them if someone reckons I should pay tax or if a contract looks like going over 2 yrs! Level the playing field.

Mark, London & Madrid,

Half the MP's failed to vote. Pay them on attendance and save the taxpayer a fortune. if they were there and did not vote, they should resign. If not brave enough to have an opinion they should not represent us.

Richard , Priddy, UK

I hope these greedy MPs are booted out come the General Election.
They disgust me with their "I'm alright Jack "attitude when millions of people are struggling to make ends meet.
This is a total abuse of taxpayers hard earned cash
Shame on them all!

Stephen Holmes, Withington, UK

It's time that the public was made aware of ALL the different financial benefits that MPs get. There is such things as pension rights among others. Please will somebody tell us, the normal people, what these MPs grab for themselves from our taxes.

G J Ward, London,

MPs should have the courage to argue the case if their income does not reflect the long hours, responsibility and stress. Personaly I think they should be paid more.
At the moment they are avoiding the debate and fiddling their expenses to make up the difference. This is dishonest.

Tom , Huddersfield, UK

We are told that 80% of our laws are now made in Brussels. Why not get rid of 80% of our M.P.'s? The remainder would probably earn their money while the cost to the taxpayer would be greatly reduced.

Peter, Paphos, Cyprus

"Carry on troughing!!" No surprise to anyone, nor the fact that yet again "Bottler" stayed well clear, probably realising what his champagne socialist Nu-Lab colleagues would do.

Milo, Uckfield, UK

Does anyone know if Gordon actively voted or did he stay away without voting? If he didn't vote against reforms then that just says it all!!

Mark Batty, Nottingham, England

This thing smell's and Gordon Brown's behaviour is questionable. The majority of MPs that blocked reforms were Labour and 33 of them Ministers. Gordon has shown no Leadership in this and the Labour Government has betrayed the country... again.

John Goode, Welwyn Garden City, UK

More dithering from Brown. How could he 'opt not to attend the vote' on such an important issue. The real reason is as obvious as his failure to provide any lead on the debate over MPs exemption to the Freedom of Information Act. He makes confusing remarks then tries to claim the moral high ground.

pw, birmingham, uk

MPs voting for a 2.25% increase in their pay sounds good, but people should remember that the same increase in the old age pension would be pennies as against thousands of pounds for the MPs.

G J Ward, London,

Gordon should have bothered to actually vote.

Lisa, London,