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Hazel Blears resigns from cabinet Hazel Blears resigns from cabinet
(30 minutes later)
Communities Secretary Hazel Blears has resigned from the cabinet.Communities Secretary Hazel Blears has resigned from the cabinet.
She has been under fire over her expenses and was tipped for the axe in a reshuffle expected after European and English local elections on Thursday.She has been under fire over her expenses and was tipped for the axe in a reshuffle expected after European and English local elections on Thursday.
The Salford MP, a former Labour Party chairman, paid back just over £13,000 after claims that she avoided capital gains tax over a property sale.The Salford MP, a former Labour Party chairman, paid back just over £13,000 after claims that she avoided capital gains tax over a property sale.
She denied doing anything wrong but Gordon Brown described her expenses claims as "unacceptable".She denied doing anything wrong but Gordon Brown described her expenses claims as "unacceptable".
In a resignation statement, Ms Blears said: "Today I have told the prime minister that I am resigning from the Government. 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 Hazel Blears Communities Secretary
BBC political editor Nick Robinson said the timing of her resignation, on the eve of important elections, appeared to be a "deliberate" attempt to "destabilise" Mr Brown, which had left him "fighting for his political life".
He said Ms Blears had been furious about Mr Brown's criticisms of her expenses claims and he expected her to call for the prime minister to stand down following this week's elections.
"The next 24 or 48 hours will determine whether we have a new prime minister," added Mr Robinson.
In a resignation 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."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. "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. 'Calculated attempt'
She added: "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."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."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.""Finally, there's an important set of elections tomorrow. My message is simple: get out and vote Labour."
Theresa May, for the Conservatives, said Ms Blears' resignation appeared to be a "calculated attempt to destabilise the prime minister".
She told the BBC News channel: "Frankly, the game is up for Gordon Brown. We are seeing the dying days of this Labour government."