Kennedy's two resignations in three years

The Liverpool Wavertree MP, 51, who cut her political teeth fighting the Militant tendency in the Eighties, launched a scathing attack on Mr Brown's inner circle after stepping down as environment minister.

She called for a debate on the Damian McBride email scandal and other examples of briefing against MPs from No 10, saying: "I have been listening to my party members and constituents and councillor colleagues, all of whom have been as disturbed as I have been for a long time, well before the expenses row regarding the style of leadership."

Ms Kennedy also quit as a health minister in 2006 over concerns about the impact NHS reforms would have on her local children's hospital.

The daughter of an engineer, Ms Kennedy was a trade union branch secretary and organiser between 1983 and 1992, when she was elected Labour MP for Liverpool Broadgreen. She became MP for Liverpool Wavertree five years later.

Her ministerial career includes posts at the Treasury, departments of health, work and pensions, as well as the Lord Chancellor's department and the Northern Ireland Office.

She worked as a residential child care officer at Liverpool city council between 1979 and 1983 and then as a care assistant in social services until 1988.

She married Malcolm Kennedy in 1977, but they divorced 21 years later and she now lives with her partner Peter in Liverpool. She has two grown-up sons.