Blears admits error in time of exit

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The former Communities Secretary caused huge anger in the Labour ranks by walking out of the Cabinet the day before last week's elections.

But she has now insisted the move was not part of a plot to oust the Prime Minister, or trigger further resignations from the Government.

The Salford MP said her position in Cabinet became untenable after Mr Brown described her failure to pay capital gains tax on the sale of a second home as "totally unacceptable".

In an interview with the Manchester Evening News, she said she had not spoken to Cabinet colleagues, including James Purnell who quit the following day, about her plan to resign.

Ms Blears said she now realised she should not have walked out the day before the European and local elections.

She added: "I genuinely thought I could go without it sparking off this huge firestorm.

"In hindsight that judgment was wrong. I should have waited until after the election. The effect on the party is something I will live with for ever."

Former Deputy PM John Prescott is among those who have attacked Ms Blears for undermining the work of Labour activists in the disastrous elections for the party.