Blears exit triggers Labour civil war
Updated on 03 June 2009
The crisis swirling around Downing Street took on a new ferocity today as the Communities Secretary Hazel Blears resigned from the government.
Blears follows the home secretary Jacqui Smith, in announcing her resignation from Cabinet, but - unlike Smith - she did not agree to stay on until Gordon Brown carried out his Cabinet reshuffle.
She was widely expected to be sacked in that reshuffle, but her decision to walk out on the eve of tomorrow's European and local elections struck a new blow to the Prime Minister's waning authority
Blears has come under pressure after it was revealed that she did not pay capital gains tax when selling a property on which she had claimed the parliamentary second homes allowance. She later repaid £13,000 to HM Revenue & Customs.
In a statement released today, Blears urged voters to back Labour tomorrow and said she wanted to "return to the grassroots (where I began), to political activism, to the cut and thrust of political debate".
Gary Gibbon on Blears
Political editor Gary Gibbon on how the latest Cabinet departure affects Gordon Brown's chances of survival. Krishnan Guru-Murthy with the questions.
Macguire on Blears
The Mirror's associate editor Kevin Maguire assesses where Hazel Blears's departure leaves Gordon Brown. Krishnan Guru-Murthy asks the questions.
Hazel Blears statement
Ms Blears said: "Today I have told the prime minister that I am resigning from the government.
"My politics has always been rooted in the belief that ordinary people are capable of extraordinary things, given the right support and encouragement.
"The role of a progressive government should be to pass power to the people.
"I've never sought high office for the sake of it, or for what I can gain, but for what I can achieve for the people I represent and serve.
"In this next phase of my political life I am redoubling my efforts to speak up for the people of Salford as their Member of Parliament.
"I am returning to the grassroots (where I began), to political activism, to the cut and thrust of political debate.
"Most of all I want to help the Labour Party to reconnect with the British people, to remind them that our values are their values, that their hopes and dreams are ours too.
"I am glad to be going home to the people who matter the most to me: the people of Salford.
"Finally, there's an important set of elections tomorrow. My message is simple: get out and vote Labour."
Career Timeline
- May 1997: becomes Labour MP for Salford in May 1997
- 2001: appointed secretary of state at the Department of Health
- 2003: appointed minister of state at the Home Office in 2003
- 2003: elected to the Labour party NEC in 2003
- 2006: appointed Labour party chair in 2006
- June 2007: last of the six candidates in the election for Labour deputy leader
- June 2007: appointed communities secretary by Gordon Brown in June 2007
- May 2009: under pressure after revelation that she did not pay capital gains tax on a property on which she had claimed a second homes allowance
