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No. 10 blamed for Kelly's exit
Joe Murphy and Paul Waugh24.09.08
- Minister with long links to Miliband
- Sketch: Quiet woman rains on PM's parade
- 'Downing St dirty tricks behind outing of Kelly'
- Darling set to back down over road tax rises
- I don't use my wife as a prop like Brown, says Cameron
- Poll: Do you think Kelly quit for family reasons?
- Blog: Ruth Kelly's statement in full - praise for Blair
Gordon Brown's fightback was plunged into chaos today after Ruth Kelly quit the Cabinet.
The Transport Secretary said she was "shocked" that her decision to step down quietly in the next reshuffle had been shattered by leaks of her plans.
Fellow Cabinet ministers were furious and her friends pointed an accusing finger at No10 officials for "outing" her in an extraordinary 3am briefing at the Labour conference in Manchester.
The bombshell news blotted out the success of the Prime Minister's big speech and disrupted his carefully planned autumn fightback to turn round the polls.
Ministers were bewildered why Downing Street staff appeared to have broken the resignation plan at such a critical moment - with some blaming the misjudgment on paranoia around Mr Brown about a possible leadership challenge.
Amid claims that several members of the Cabinet are ready to march in to demand Mr Brown's removal, Ms Kelly insisted that she was not part of any plot and had made her mind up months ago to quit to spend more time with her family.
The effect of Ms Kelly's departure was to wreck a tour of TV and radio stations this morning by the Prime Minister, who was seeking to capitalise on his successful conference speech but found himself diverted onto questions about his relationship with the Transport Secretary.
While she has never been publicly disloyal, Ms Kelly is said to have had doubts about the Government's direction in recent months.
A close friend of leader-in-waiting David Miliband, she is said to have been unhappy with the Government's political strategy under Mr Brown's leadership.
Last night there were claims from the Tories that Ms Kelly called the Prime Minister's conference speech "terrible".
One of their researchers, Alex Dawson, who is attending the conference as an observer, claimed he heard the remark while walking behind her from the hall.
Ms Kelly flatly denied the allegation and said she thought the speech was "brilliant".
Her name had been linked to rumours that several ministers planned to resign together at the reshuffle and attack Mr Brown's leadership. Some MPs were speculating that Downing Street forced the timing to disrupt any such plot.
But speaking on the BBC, Ms Kelly said: "I have not been part of any plot about the leadership."
Today was her big speech on transport issues - and she publicly praised Mr Brown and Tony Blair as "towering figures". Earlier she told the Standard her only motive was to spend more time with her four young children and husband. "I owe it to my children and family to put them first," she said. "If I do not, then I know that this will be something I will come to deeply regret."
Mr Brown praised her decision, revealing that she told him of her intentions back in May. "She wants to make clear it has nothing to do with politics," said the Prime Minister. "All this speculation that Ruth Kelly's decision is to do with something else, it's actually a pretty straightforward story which I understand as a father."
Reader views (48)
The rats are leaving the sinking ship. Great timing Ruth. Just when Gordy and the gang needed what little support they have left. What a great “team“!!! And this lot are “looking after” our country for another 2 years.
- 2yearstothenelection, South-East
Frank from Oxford - the Tories will give us "decent competent government"? Is this the same Tory Party I remember in the 80's and 90's that presided over a massive rundown of the nation's infrastructure and destroyed social cohesion? I see an awful lot of the same brutal incompetent faces on their benches now that I remember from then.
- Paul, London
I think Ruth has done a brilliant job - she got Crossrail through which is more than any other transport secretary of any party in the last 20 years.
Why do people the media care more about the personal relationships and gossip than about the real decisions politicians are actually taking.
Good luck to her with bringing up her kids.
- Howard Dawber, Bexleyheath, UK
Perhaps we can now have a transport minister who will no longer see spending on trains as a subsidy but spending on roads as an investment.
Pathetic, short sighted, ignorant, androgynous.
- Chaz, London
Perhaps we can now have a transport minister who will no longer see spending on trains as a subsidy but spending on roads as an investment.
Pathetic, short sighted, ignorant, androgynous.
- Chaz, London
Dear Ruth, you had better make a better job of raising your family than the complete horlicks you made of being a meddling incompetent in Government.
Hopeless hopeless hopeless!!!
- Gareth Rowley, Farnborough, Hampshire
Who cares whether this person is in or out of Government? What has she actually achieved as the supposed "Managing" Director of the Transport portfolio? The real self-indulgence of the remainder of this bunch of incompetents is that none of them have the honesty to publicly confess what they all truly believe: that the sulky, transparently manipulative fool at the Head who is driving the UK's reputation and worth down in every way imaginable is really not deserving of being a Cabinet member (look at the disaster whilst Chancellor) let alone PM. Please think of the Nation's good for once & not your own individual petty careers.
- Andy Britt, Brussels, Belgium
I wish the whole nu-lab lot would resign......they have not got a clue............
- Abby Grant, UK
She never failed to impress someone...anyone know who it was?
Nao
- Naomi Sajeri, Manchester
It's a shame the whole lot of them don't 'step down'.
- Kate, East London
Goodbye and good riddance to what has to be one of the worst Transport Secretary's we have had in living memory.
The only question left now is just how long have we got to put up with the rest of them before the Tories are back in and we can get back to a decent competent government again.
- Frank W, Oxford
Tony Blair is the clever one....always thought he left when he knew everything was just about to go down the pan. Ruth, I wish you well with the harder job of bringing up four children, leaving the teenagers at your ex-work to fight amongst themselves, do nothing but still expect money at every turn. Who are the brainier ones? No bets please.
- Rod, Epping UK
Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the fairest party of them all. Crack! Oh dear.
Now let's have some more resignations and get the whole lot of these muppets out of government pronto.
- Tim, Bracknell, Berkshire
Time now to sing a happy song. "What a difference a day makes..."
- Tom Begg, From Lochwinnoch, staying with friends in Finchley this week.
Isn't it odd that all the time Labour were doing OK (ish) she was happy to be a Cabinet Minister. When she realises Labour are going to be booted out at the next election, she suddenly remembers the 4 young children she has and wants to spend more time with them - how convenient. Ruth Kelly, you are pathetic.
- Shirley, London
I dont know if some people are born under a bad star or whether it is self-inflicted, I think the later. Mr Brown is accident prone. He was even when he was chancellor. The world economy kept all finance ministers looking as they were geniuses. But the small print was the Devil. He got away with it because of Blair. Now he is totally exposed, way over his head. Only problem is the political alternatives dont bear thinking about. God help us all.
- Bondy, london
Informed sources say that Kelly got out before things hotted up in the Greater Manchester referendum on road pricing - which takes in voters in her constituency.
I hope that the anticipated backlash on drivers being seen as a cash-cow will provide our Boris with an additional incentive to scrap the W London congestion charge zone.
- Jools, London
Everyone knows that ministers quitting "for family reasons" - it is almost always a euphemism for something else. The least they could have done was think up a good excuse!
- Sg, London
The usual spin and distortion by The Standard.This resignation was caused by a newspaper that was going to run this story to deflect from Browns speech.Ruth Kelly was left with no option other than to confirm it.
- Colin, barking essex
Farewell Opus Dei, and let's hope no other member of that devious organisation finds their way into Government!
- Paul Freeman, London England
There is nothing brilliant about Ms Kelly. Academically gifted perhaps but due to her militant religious outlook, she has been unable to deliver meaningful programmes through policy interpretation, and doesn't have a place in any secular government.
Also, I have to agree with others - she could be sniffing scandal over Heathrow expansion and doesn't want to be tainted.
Perhaps her "dei" will come again.
- Alistair Mckenzie, London UK
At last worthwhile news from the party conference. Great
- Steve Evans, Malta
The fact that her religious views took priority when taking policy decitions sets a very dangerous precedance.
In future, Muslim MP's can use Kelly as an example when voting on matters that should concern all constituants.
NO cabinet member should be allowed to be swayed on a decision due to religious reasons. Conscience and common sense should allways prevail.
- Chris, London
Now she's had all 4 maternity leaves and milked the pot for all it is worth, off she goes without a backward look at the ill-conceived non-policies which have resulted in transport mayhem. What a positively ghastly example of massive over-promotion in order to fill the gender quota. Good riddance to the baritone Bible-basher!
- Mermaid, Frankfurt, Germany
If even the disasters (Ruth Kelly) are leaving who will they be replaced by? Caroline Flint the idiot who allowed photographers to snap her confidential documents? What a joke. No the SS Socialist Titanic blunders on with the Captain and crew determined to plough into the nearest ice berg.
- Richard K, Nottingham
Could she take Hazel Blears and Harriet Harman with her when she goes?
(and all the rest of them too)
- Paul G., London
I read in The Guardian that Ruth Kelly has been described as a 'brilliant minister'. Well I must have been away when such brilliance was being demonstrated. All i see is congested roads that are poorly maintained, railways that are the most expensive in the world to use and airports that are a national disgrace.
- Simon Powell, London
The rats will be leaving the shipping ship then.
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
Is this linked with the news this morning that runway 3 at Heathrow has been 'rubber stamped' by the Government? If so, has she resigned before any part she had to play in this was discovered and she was sacked?
- Andy, London
Hidden agenda here--no doubt. Let's wait and see what the whole, so called reshuffle looks like in a week or so's time. Or might it be called a night of the long knives?
- William Grierson, Kimpton, UK
It's not like anyone will miss he/she!
I know you should not judge a book by its cover, but honestly, would you give it a job?
- Triffidqueen, London
blimey, i wish i could pack up my job to spend more time with my family !!
- Simon Bucknell, enfield
Good. Kelly's religious views have significantly coloured her policy decisions and in my opinion she should never have been allowed to hold public office.
- John, Bedford
The 'Blair Babes' should have heralded a new era in politics. Instead it now looks like a sad failure. Maybe politics should be left to the men!
- Michael, London
Not a moment too soon. What has she done to help the motorist ? Only to increase costs & charges! She has never been good at her job in the government. Let's hope for her children's sake she'll do a better job as a mother
- Jack King, London UK
Thanks heavens she's out. Does this mean that someone who isn't on BAA/BA's payroll will now make the decision on the 3rd runway at Heathrow. If she gets a post at either BAA or BA it will be a testiment to the corruption of the Brown government.
- Sam, London
One less bloke in the cabinet.
- Max, London
Best thing she has done while in office, she could have done us all a huge favour and resigned a little earlier like 10 years ago, but alls well in the end.
Now how many more to go before we get rid of this shambles of a government.
- Mr S.Port, London
The first nail in the Brown coffin ! Let's hope the process is speeded up now.
- Peter Gregson, London
Carry on!
Help get rid of the rest of them! In the current climate how can Labour be the fairest party to all?
- Sylphlike1, Reading
I am shocked…the woman who apparently wears hessian underwear has 4 kids?
Timing is everything in life and I think it’s very, very clear that her resignation is a huge vote of no-confidence in Brown. Wasn’t he giving a speech or something yesterday?
- St, London
This dreadful woman, like Blair when he took us to war in Iraq, voted according to her 'God' and not her consituents. This is dangerous and goes against all the principles of Parliament. I am delighted she has gone and so should Brown - he should never have given her a post in the first place
- Andy, London
Possibly the best news I've had all week. Kelly will not be missed.
- Tom, St. Albans
Good riddance to this arrogant overbearing woman - hope we can get rid of the rest of them.
- David, East Grinstead
Everyone knows that Ruth Kelley would have been out in the cabinet Shuffle, so there is no surprise she decided to jump of a sinking ship! the woman is a coward!
- Raminder Bhalla, Northolt
her desire to leave the cabinet has been known for weeks...she has clearly not been motivated by the job for a while and this is well known....
she was promoted by Blair and many people have questioned how she got to that level of seniority. there may well have been a religious element to the close relationship.
this is not an anti Brown protest
- Martin_Clerkenwell, london
No real loss it must be said!
- Scott, London
The first lifeboat being lowered.
- Phil Jones, London UK
