Beleaguered Home Secretary resumes holiday

CHARLES Clarke, the UK Home Secretary, has returned to his summer holiday and will be monitoring Britain's national security by phone and e-mail, it emerged yesterday.

Geoff Hoon, the leader of the Commons, said Mr Clarke has arranged to be "in constant touch" with UK anti-terrorism officers now that all four suspects from the 21 July suicide bomb cell are in custody.

The Home Office angrily denied reports that David Blunkett, now the Work and Pensions Secretary, has temporarily returned to his old job by covering for Mr Clarke.

Mr Hoon yesterday made it clear that Mr Clarke, who last week bowed to pressure and broke his holiday, has now found it safe to rejoin his family. "I think you will find that Charles Clarke, although taking a well deserved break, is in constant touch with the Home Office," he said.

"These days technology allows us to be in communication wherever we are in the world and I'm confident that Charles will be keeping an eye on things," he told the BBC.

Hazel Blears, Mr Clarke's deputy, is standing in for him. Meanwhile, John Prescott will be running the country for the next fortnight while the Prime Minister is on holiday.

Mr Hoon defended the move. "The Deputy Prime Minister traditionally is on duty during the summer. It is something John Prescott has done extremely well over very many years."

It also emerged yesterday that Mr Prescott and Ms Blears have clashed over Mr Blair's "respect" agenda.

A leaked memo showed the Deputy Prime Minister vetoed 50 million being transferred from his local government regeneration fund to a Home Office "Respect unit".