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Minister quits over her expenses Minister quits over her expenses
(20 minutes later)
Treasury minister Kitty Ussher has quit the government after further questions were raised about her expenses.Treasury minister Kitty Ussher has quit the government after further questions were raised about her expenses.
Ms Ussher took the step amid reports she flipped the designation of her second home shortly before selling it in 2007, avoiding capital gains tax. Ms Ussher took the step amid reports she "flipped" the designation of her second home shortly before selling it in 2007, avoiding capital gains tax.
Ms Ussher denied she did anything wrong and said she was stepping aside to prevent the government embarrassment.Ms Ussher denied she did anything wrong and said she was stepping aside to prevent the government embarrassment.
The move comes on the eve of the publication of all MPs' expenses on the Parliament website.The move comes on the eve of the publication of all MPs' expenses on the Parliament website.
Rising star
Ms Ussher, Exchequer Secretary and MP for Burnley, resigned after speaking to Chancellor Alistair Darling and Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Thursday.
She was immediately replaced at the Treasury by Communities Minister Sarah McCarthy-Fry.
Ms Ussher, who has two young children, said she would also stand down from Parliament as the next election, citing family reasons.
The BBC's Political Editor Nick Robinson said one of Labour's rising stars had become the latest victim of the expenses saga - demonstrating that the issue was still haunting Westminster.
Ms Ussher was one of the MPs whose expenses claims for her second home - a flat in London - were investigated by the Daily Telegraph.
However, it is understood that her resignation relates to separate allegations about the sale of a property in 2007 on which she did not pay capital gains tax.
People with more than one property are liable for capital gains tax on the sale of their second home, but must inform Revenue and Customs of their status.
It is understood Ms Ussher switched the designation of properties, for tax purposes, a month before selling the property in question and did not pay tax.
Ms Ussher said she had done nothing wrong and her actions were in line with guidance from Revenue and Customs and the Commons authorities.
Our correspondent said the move would have been highly controversial at any time, but amid the public anger over recent MPs expenses, is especially damaging.