Communities Secretary Hazel Blears today became the fourth minister to quit the Government, piling further pressure on Prime Minister Gordon Brown ahead of tomorrow's crunch European and local elections.
Ms Blears announced her resignation in a statement just two hours ahead of Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons, saying she wanted to "return to the grassroots (where I began), to political activism, to the cut and thrust of political debate".
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Online Poll: Is Hazel Blears' resignation the final straw for Gordon Brown's leadership?Her statement – which came hot on the heels of yesterday's announcement by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith that she would quit in the reshuffle expected within days – was notable for the absence of any expression of support for the Prime Minister or gratitude for having served under him.
In a statement released today, Ms Blears urged voters to back Labour tomorrow and said she wanted to "return to the grassroots (where I began), to political activism, to the cut and thrust of political debate".
Tories said that the timing of the announcement, just 24 hours ahead of elections in which Labour was already expected to receive a mauling at the hands of voters, appeared to be an attempt to destabilise the Prime Minister.
The Salford MP was a former chairwoman of the Labour Party and one of the most prominent Blairites in Mr Brown's cabinet, but had come under pressure over her failure to pay capital gains tax on a property on which she claimed parliamentary second homes allowances. She repaid £13,000, but her action was branded "totally unacceptable" by the PM.
Downing Street today said that Mr Brown "respects and understands" Ms Blears' decision to quit and would replace her "very shortly".
Opposition MPs leapt on her departure as an indication that the Government was in "meltdown" following weeks of bad publicity and tumbling opinion poll ratings.
Shadow cabinet member Theresa May told Sky News: "We have a Government that is in complete meltdown. I think the game is up for Gordon Brown.
We are seeing a Government that is in its last dying throes."
Ms Blears told Mr Brown of her decision to quit at a face-to-face meeting today, said Downing Street.
Mr Brown's spokesman said: "In the Prime Minister's view she has made an outstanding contribution to public life, most recently as Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.
"He respects and understands the decision she has taken."
Asked about the mood inside No 10, the spokesman said: "The mood at the moment is that these are clearly difficult times in terms of the trust and faith that people have in the overall political process.
"These are clearly difficult times in the economy."
But speaking of the Prime Minister, the spokesman went on: "He feels it is his duty to do whatever is necessary both in order to restore trust in our political system and to get the country through this economic difficulty."
In her statement, Ms Blears said that she had "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".
She added: "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.
"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."
Ms Blears stressed her continued support for Labour and urged voters to back the party tomorrow.
But her comment that she wanted to return to the backbenches 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" will be seen by some observers as an indication that she feels Mr Brown's administration has lost touch with voters.
