Hazel Blears resigns from government
By Ian Dunt and Alex Stevenson
Hazel Blears is to resign from the Cabinet, in another hugely damaging development for Gordon Brown.
The communities secretary released a statement which specifically did not offer support to the prime minister.
“Today I’ve told the prime minister I’m resigning from the government,” it read.
“In this next phase of my political life I’m redoubling my efforts to speak up for people of Salford.”
Coming just hours before prime minister’s questions, the resignation was treated as something akin to an act of war.
Mr Brown launched a combative performance in the session, and received considerable support from Labour backbenchers.
“I thought he did very well, considering the circumstances,” one Labour backbencher told politics.co.uk. He added he feared a “drubbing” in tomorrow’s local elections nonetheless, and described Ms Blears’ resignation as “expected” given the pressure she was under.
David Cameron argued his “ability to command his Cabinet has simply disappeared” and urged the prime minister to dissolve parliament for a general election, which Mr Brown refused to do.
Her resignation means four senior government figures will have resigned in the space of 24 hours, indicating Mr Brown’s government has reached crisis point.
Bookmakers are now shortening the odds on Mr Brown remaining leader until the next general election almost by the minute.
William Hill cut the odds from 6/4 to 6/5 this morning.
“Even though Mr Brown is still slightly favoured to survive the crisis, punters only want to back him to go at the moment,” said spokesman Graham Sharpe.
The decision to resign comes just a day before the local and European elections, and a day after the prime minister was massively undermined by the resignation of several MPs and Cabinet members, including the home secretary, suggesting Ms Blears intended to damage Mr Brown.
A Labour backbencher sympathetic to the prime minister said he was “critical” of the resignation. “It’s coming a day before the elections. This is not the best timing.”
The prime minister indicated in his acceptance letter to Ms Blears he would like her to return to the government soon.
He wrote: “I am grateful for all of your work for the government, wish you and your husband Michael well for the future, and hope it will not be long before you can return to the government.”
Ms Blears had told him that “I want to help you and the Labour party to reconnect with the British people” in her resignation letter. She did not praise his leadership, however.
The Salford MP was widely tipped for demotion during the upcoming reshuffle, after a critical article on the prime minister’s performance mocked his announcement on YouTube, and some highly questionable expenses claims.
She responded to the controversy by paying back just over £13,000 after claims that she avoided capital gains tax on a property sale.
But Mr Brown branded her behaviour “utterly unacceptable”, a statement which now appears to have driven Ms Blears to rebellion.
That cheque was allegedly made out to cover two properties, not just the one previously understood to be at the centre of her expenses problems.
That revelation led some commentators – including, notably, the Telegraph, which has led the expenses charge – to presume her resignation was motivated by a fear of further disclosures against her.
The paper is reporting that the Cabinet Office compliance unit looking at ministers’ arrangements has found another property sale which Ms Blears described as a primary residence for tax purposes but a second home for the Commons authorities.
Her constituency association released a statement saying: “We regret that Hazel has decided to resign from Cabinet.
“Hazel remains committed to campaigning for her constituency. We share Hazel’s concerns for the need for the Labour party to reconnect with the needs and aspirations of ordinary people.”
SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson said: “Another day and another departure from Gordon Brown’s Cabinet – it is not a reshuffle we need but a general election.
“The prime minister, his government, and parliament has lost all authority.”
Mr Brown’s reshuffle will now almost certainly be made on Friday, before the European election results on Sunday night.
