Question: What do you think of the proposals to tighten up regulation of MPs' expenses?

Griffiths: I fully support the proposals. I always submit receipts.

Question: Has the light touch regulation led to the perception of politicians to be damaged?

Griffiths: It has led to the perception being damaged. I don't think colleagues make up receipts and you have to remember that the £25 receipt rule will be dead easy with an Excel spreadsheet and that wasn't available to the last generation and when I came in 20 years ago, so the fees office didn't have the wherewithal so they set a target and were satisfied with that. I don't think we'll find any abuse under the new system.

Question: Has Gordon Brown settled into the role of prime minister?

Griffiths: He settled into the role of prime minister from day one when he had to deal with the flooding, blue tongue and a whole host of unexpected issues where his calm authority and also his Rolls-Royce brain, his ability to analyse a situation and call in people who are experts has been proven.

I don't think he has changed much from then but I accept that press and public perception has been moved.

Question: Is it time internal critics like Charles Clarke stopped criticising Brown?

Griffiths: Charles Clarke's comments are not just unhelpful but unfair and I'm not sure that on reflection and when writing his memoirs he might reflect on this period and think he could have been fairer.

Gordon brown has always been fair to Charles Clarke and we need Charles now to focus on the positive contribution to his country.

I think he did many good things but he is bitter about the way in which he stopped being home secretary but that's the way the cookie crumbles in politics.

What he should do is get on and deploy his considerable talents now into making this government a better government and into making this country a better country.

Question: Why has Clarke rejected the conciliatory noises that did come from Downing Street?

Griffiths: He hasn't asked my advice but I hope he doesn't think that my advice to work on improving the government are in any way patronising or unwelcome.

Question: What do you think of Lord Goldsmith's proposal that young people should pledge allegiance to the queen?

Griffiths: Goldsmith has denied suggesting making an oath to the queen. I would not expect the many republicans in Britain to pledge an oath to the queen; I would expect them to pledge an oath to our country and better still, to their fellow citizens and to their welfare.

Question: What does the Scottish Labour Party need to do to address the challenge of the SNP?

Griffiths: It needs to bring its focus less on constitutional issues, which do not so much impinge on ordinary people's lives, and focus on the SNP's failure to deliver the abolition of student debt and it's decision to means test which is costing some of my constituents dear; focusing on the fact that the SNP are going against PPP deals which have built 40 schools in Scotland and have no plans to put anything in its place.

I look to my Scottish parliamentary colleagues to expose things like this and remind people of the alternative.