Kelly 'frustrated' over departure

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Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly has admitted she harbours doubts about the way her resignation was announced.

News that Ms Kelly was to go at the next cabinet reshuffle was spread around bars at the Labour conference in Manchester, ahead of her speech.

She told the Evening Standard this had been "frustrating" but it was "better to have it all settled now".

Meanwhile, former deputy prime minister John Prescott has urged ministers to stop "yacking" to journalists.

The announcement of Ms Kelly's resignation, early on Wednesday morning, drew attention from Prime Minister Gordon Brown's conference speech the previous day.

The transport secretary said she was leaving the cabinet to spend more time with her young family.

But there was speculation over alleged unhappiness at Mr Brown's leadership.

I trust him [Gordon Brown] to get the cabinet that will give him support John Prescott

Asked about the announcement of her departure, Ms Kelly said: "I have some doubts about the way it was handled. But it is better to have it all settled now."

Downing Street has denied it was behind the news, insisting it "leaked out".

Mr Brown accepted Ms Kelly's decision to leave in May but asked her to remain in the cabinet until the reshuffle, which could take place as early as next week.

Asked whether she thought the prime minister would use the opportunity to edge out ministers who had been close to predecessor Tony Blair, Ms Kelly said: "I hope that doesn't happen. I don't think he will."

She urged the party not to drift to the left, as the electoral consequences would be "severe".

'Great talents'

Ms Kelly, who has four children aged 11 or under, also refused to rule out a leadership contest before the next election, saying: "It's impossible to say what is going to happen."

She praised Foreign Secretary David Miliband, said to be positioning himself for a leadership challenge, saying: "He is one of the great talents of the cabinet - a star of the future, a real asset and a good friend."

Interviewed on BBC Two's Daily Politics, Mr Prescott said the Labour conference had been a success. He added that Mr Brown was "the best man in the job" for dealing with the economic downturn.

On the imminent reshuffle, he said: "I trust him [Mr Brown] to get the cabinet that will give him support."

He also said the government would be stronger if "cabinet members will spend a little bit more time supporting then some of them appear to be spending yacking to journalists".