HAZEL Blears' protest against planned hospital cuts in her constituency comes as she is widely tipped to stand for the Labour Party deputy leadership.

Her act of rebellion is all the more notable because she has been one of the most enthusiastic and loyal supporters of Tony Blair's programme of modernisation of public services.

Her regular appearances on TV and radio to promote the Government line have won her a reputation among critics as a Blairite mouthpiece, but have also seen her elevated to Cabinet rank as one of the Prime Minister's most dependable lieutenants.

The diminutive 50-year-old is one of the greatest parliamentary success stories among the 1997 intake of women MPs known as the "Blair babes".

She arrived in the Cabinet in May this year as minister without portfolio and Labour Party chairman, after a solid performance in a series of more junior ministerial jobs in the Department of Health and Home Office.

Intentions

She has repeatedly declined publicly to state her intentions with regard to the party's deputy leadership.

Supporters say that she would provide balance in the leadership team if Gordon Brown becomes Prime Minister as expected, providing a female perspective and ensuring that the Blairite legacy is continued.

But critics question whether she has the independent base of support and ministerial experience to provide a foil to Mr Brown.

Born in Salford, she was educated at Wardley Grammar School, Eccles Sixth Form College, Trent Polytechnic and Chester College of Law, where she trained as a solicitor.

She worked as a solicitor in councils in Rossendale, Wigan and Manchester and was a Salford City Councillor from 1984-92 and chairman of Salford Community Health Council from 1992-96.

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