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Clare Short resigns as Labour MP Clare Short resigns as Labour MP
(10 minutes later)
Clare Short has resigned as a Labour MP and will sit as an independent for the remainder of this parliament, her office has confirmed. Clare Short has resigned as a Labour MP and will sit as an independent for the remainder of this parliament.
The ex-Cabinet member has already said she will quit at the next election. The ex-Cabinet minister has already said she will quit as an MP at the next general election.
In her resignation letter she accused Tony Blair of "half-truths and deceits to get us to war in Iraq". In a letter to Labour's chief whip she accuses Tony Blair of "half-truths and deceits to get us to war in Iraq".
Chancellor Gordon Brown refused to comment but added: "It has been known for some time she wasn't voting with the Labour whip."
Earlier this month Ms Short was formally reprimanded by Labour for saying she will campaign for a hung parliament.Earlier this month Ms Short was formally reprimanded by Labour for saying she will campaign for a hung parliament.
Labour Chief whip Jacqui Smith said she had breached the Parliamentary Labour Party's code of conduct. Labour Chief Whip Jacqui Smith said she had breached the Parliamentary Labour Party's code of conduct.
But the former international development secretary escaped expulsion from the party over the remarks. I am sorry it has come to this, but after a lifetime of service to the Labour Party Clare Short href="/1/hi/uk_politics/6070156.stm" class="">In full: Resignation letter
The Birmingham Ladywood MP has been a vocal critic of Mr Blair's foreign policy and leadership style since quitting the Cabinet in 2003. The former international development secretary escaped expulsion from the party over the remarks.
In a resignation letter to the chief whip, Ms Short says: "It is my view that our political system is in trouble and that the exaggerated majorities in the House of Commons have led to an abject parliament and a concentration of power in Number 10 that has produced arrogant, error-prone government." In a letter to Ms Smith resigning the whip, she repeats her claim that a hung parliament would be good for democracy.
"It is my view that our political system is in trouble and that the exaggerated majorities in the House of Commons have led to an abject parliament and a concentration of power in Number 10 that has produced arrogant, error-prone government," writes Ms Short.
"Given that the next election might well produce a hung parliament, I want to be free to argue that this creates a valuable opportunity to reform our voting system so that the House of Commons more accurately reflects public opinion, and we have a parliament more able to hold the Government to account and to ensure that policy is well considered".
Ms Short, 60, also accuses Labour's previous chief whip, social exclusion minister Hilary Armstrong, of using her authority "to stop me discussing the fact that the prime minister engaged in a series of half-truths and deceits to get us to war in Iraq".
Previous resignationsPrevious resignations
The Birmingham Ladywood MP has been a vocal critic of Mr Blair's foreign policy and leadership style since quitting the Cabinet in 2003.
Ms Short has resigned from Labour's front bench on three occasions - twice over the Gulf Wars and once over prevention of terrorism laws.Ms Short has resigned from Labour's front bench on three occasions - twice over the Gulf Wars and once over prevention of terrorism laws.
Her 2003 resignation was seen as damaging her standing with Labour's left.Her 2003 resignation was seen as damaging her standing with Labour's left.
Rather than quitting before the conflict, like Cabinet colleague Robin Cook, she publicly agonised over its rights and wrongs.Rather than quitting before the conflict, like Cabinet colleague Robin Cook, she publicly agonised over its rights and wrongs.
She only left her post as international development secretary once the main hostilities ended. She only left her post as the international development secretary once the main hostilities ended.