Govt 'collapses' as Blears continues Cabinet resignations
Communities secretary Hazel Blears to quit Cabinet
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Wednesday, 03, Jun 2009 07:14
Gordon Brown has been accused of presiding over a "collapsing" government a day before local and EU elections as Hazel Blears became the third Cabinet minister in 24 hours to resign.
The communities secretary said she was leaving government to return to grassroots politics and help connect her constituents with politics.
Pointedly, she explicitly refrained from expressing any support for the embattled prime minister, who said he "respects and understands" Ms Blears' decision.
At prime minister's questions today he faced accusations from David Cameron and Nick Clegg that Labour was finished, that his government was paralysed and his premiership was in its death throes.
Yesterday news of Jacqui Smith's resignation as home secretary was leaked, followed shortly after by Tom Watson's resignation as parliamentary secretary.
While Ms Smith was silent yesterday on her resignation ahead of a Cabinet reshuffle next week, communities secretary Ms Blears released an extraordinary statement outlining her reasons.
"Today I have told the prime minister that I am resigning from the government," she said.
"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."
As well Ms Smith's resignation yesterday, three MPs said they would not stand at the next election, while a fourth was barred from standing.
Facing the prime minister across the despatch box today, Conservative leader David Cameron said Mr Brown's "ability to command his Cabinet has simply disappeared", urging him to dissolve parliament and call an election.
In her statement Ms Blears went on to say: "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.
"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."