Yes, I Know The Subject Of MPs' Expenses Has Been Well-Covered Elsewhere, But....

... two thoughts:

1. Isn't allowing MPs to decide the nature and scope of their own expenses a little like letting kleptomaniacs vote on revisions to the 1968 Theft Act?

2. How does the fact that Gordon Brown's attempts to reform the expenses procedure have been kicked out by MPs become something which is interpreted as a dent in his credibity as PM? Surely, by MPs voting to reject the reforms, and therefore voting in favour of maintaining a system which is clearly open to (and indeed subject to) abuse, that reflects far more damningly on MPs generally?

Granted, I'm rather inclined not to trust MPs as an instinctive reaction, but still...