YESTERDAY'S newspaper headlines would have made uncomfortable reading for Tony Blair. And today's will be no better.

The hole in which David Blunkett finds himself has deepened and the Government is having to dig ever more frantically to prevent it from caving in completely on the Works and Pensions Secretary.

Yesterday, it emerged that Mr Blunkett was reminded three times in writing that he had to consult the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments about taking jobs after leaving his post as Home Secretary last year.

His failure to do so has led Sir Alistair Graham, chairman of the committee on standards in public life, to conclude that Mr Blunkett had "undoubtedly" breached ministerial rules.

With the further revelation that he had taken on another job during his period out of office - earning between £15,000-£20,000 as an advisor to the international charity World ORT - the question marks over his judgement are looking very serious indeed.

And it is not the first time those questions have been raised.

Whatever the fate of Mr Blunkett - and we believe he should go - this sorry episode has again underlined the need to clean up politics.

There is too much ambiguity over what the rules are, too many fudges, and too many get-out clauses.

While the rules allow MPs to take on other jobs there will always be the potential for conflicts of interest and accusations that they are feathering their own nests.

The challenge of properly serving the needs of 70,000 constituents should be enough to keep anyone fully occupied.