Ruth Kelly quits cabinet, but denies plotting to remove Gordon Brown

Last Modified: 24 Sep 2008
By: Cathy Newman

Gordon Brown loses a cabinet minister within hours of his speech. Was Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly's resignation really about family or more about him?

Ms Kelly denied rumours she'd been part of a plot to topple Mr Brown, saying she remained a strong supporter of the prime minister, who was a "towering figure" on the world stage.

Gordon Brown wasn't able to bask in the glow of his conference speech for long, as within hours of his address to the Labour conference his cabinet colleague Ruth Kelly announced her resignation.

Although she'd been tipped for the sack in the impending reshuffle, she said she was leaving for family reasons, so she could spend more time with her four children.

Derek Wyatt interview

Jon Snow was joined from Westminster by Derek Wyatt - one of Labour's most vulnerable MPs at the next election - he holds his constituency of Stiingbourne and Sheppey by a majority of just 79 votes, to talk abour Ruth Kelly's resignation: