Lord Judd, also a Labour peer, branded the proposals "ill-considered" and "insensitive", telling peers that people were "in a muddle" about who is representing them at local council level.

BBC: Motion of regret

We'll have to muddle through, with just about everybody unhappy with either the result or how it was achieved.

FORBES: Computing Desire

Our main doubts about Mr Obama have to do with the damage a muddle-headed Democratic Congress might try to do to the economy.

ECONOMIST: The presidential election

Many believe that the EU will somehow muddle through, but to do so requires putting your head in the sand about the economy in 2013.

FORBES: How to Feed Your Draghi

After months of headlines about pasty taxes, plebgate, confusion over energy policy, West Coast mainline chaos, G4S Olympic security muddle, abandoned Lords' reforms and badger culls and so on, the government will hope it has a chance to change the narrative.

BBC: End to recession gives hope to coalition partners