SALFORD MP Hazel Blears has resigned from the cabinet as the expenses scandal saga rumbles on.
Ms Blears resigned from her post as communities and local government secretary yesterday in a letter to the Prime Minister in which she said she would be redoubling her efforts as MP for the city.
Her resignation follows revelations that she accrued more than £20,000 per year in second-home allowances.
Attempts to rebuild her reputation by brandishing a cheque for the taxman during a BBC interview last month met with a lukewarm response.
Reaction from Salford’s electorate was mixed when the Advertiser hit the streets while Salford’s political opposition leaders said it was too little too late.
Liberal Democrat leader Councillor Norman Owen said: "I don’t think resigning her cabinet post will save her political bacon.
"She lost her roots in politics when she became an MP and stepped on that pedestal.
"She put herself above the electorate and she will never regain that confidence.
"There’s a lot of people in the electorate of Salford who have given a sigh of relief that she’s resigned but I would have thought the next step would be to step down as MP."
Conservative leader Councillor Karen Garrido said: "It’s not before time, she should have done the decent thing right at the beginning and not only resigned from the cabinet but her position in Salford as well.
"It’s unbelievable she still thinks she should stay on.
"She will be in for a rude awakening with people - she represents the community which is very caring and according to her government one of the most deprived so she should have been focusing on Salford in the first place."
Labour leader Councillor John Merry added: "On a personal level I am saddened by Hazel’s news, however I respect her decision and I think it is a mark of her integrity as this is the right thing to do. However, it is important that Gordon Brown is not undermined before we go into crucial elections and any discussion on the future of the party must not be a discussion just for MP’s, but must involve the wider party."
After her expense claims were revealed last month Ms Blears appeared on national television brandishing a cheque and promising to repay £13,000 to the Inland Revenue after she avoided paying capital gains tax on the sale of her London home.
Ms Blears, who joined the cabinet in 1997, also claimed a TV, matress, bath towels and two Kit Kat Chunkies, on her expenses.
Throughout the saga Ms Blears has insisted she acted within the rules and called for a review of the expense system.
In her resignation letter Ms Blears said: "My politics has always been rooted in the belief that ordinary people are capable of extraordinary things, given the right support and encouragement.
"The role of a progressive government should be to pass power to the people.
"I’ve never sought high office for the sake of it, or for what I can gain, but for what I can achieve for the people I represent and serve.
"In this next phase of my political life I am redoubling my efforts to speak up for the people of Salford as their Member of Parliament.
"I am returning to the grassroots (where I began), to political activism, to the cut and thrust of political debate.
"Most of all I want to help the Labour Party to reconnect with the British people, to remind them that our values are their values; that their hopes and dreams are ours too. I am glad to be going home to the people who matter the most to me: the people of Salford.
"Finally, there’s an important set of elections today. My message is simple: get out and vote Labour."
Lynne Egerton, 55, of Peel Green Road, Eccles, said: "I don't think they want her here after what's gone on.
"I'm disgusted and I don't think people will want her here anymore."
Bernadette Ward, 33, of Foxhill Road, Eccles, said: "Everyone makes mistakes and she deserves a second chance.
"We need to be more realistic and less small minded."
Showing comments 1 to 15 and replies | View All
Richard Carvath (03/06/2009 at 11:16)
Whoooooooooo! Oh yeah!
Bob Jeffery (03/06/2009 at 14:10)
alan marshall (03/06/2009 at 16:42)
The same women who staged a grovelling display at repayimg a cheque for tax against a bill which hadn't been levied,the result will be a refund to her.
Unfortunatly we have no chance of seeing a change to this labour council as to many people will vote labour just because it is a "working class area" irrespective of the job they do.
Blears will continue to draw her over rated salary and claim her expenses untill she is ousted as the representative.
Peter doff (03/06/2009 at 17:04)
Rumour suggests that there are more dubious details of her expenses claims yet to come out.
Luck Salford to see her back here where she belongs.
joe taxpayer (03/06/2009 at 18:03)
You have shown yourself to be just one more selfish politician trying to get as far up the greasy pole as you can and milk the system as hard as possible. You should be ashamed of yourself (but you would be the first politician to admit, or even suffer from such a human trait so no one will hold their breath) and your recent statement on expenses is a total joke.
You "may" have done some good as a constituency MP - but loads of other people could have done just as well so there is nothing to crow about - unless you, like so many others from that terrible place (Parliament) have delusions that you are anything else other than a public servant.
Many suspect that the real reasons are..
1)U knew GB was going to bump you out the door.
2)U r not a supporter of GB and don't want to drown in his imminent demise - so real reason is to increase pressure on him and get him out of picture asap. I Suspect u and a few others have decided on this cowards way forward.
3))No point in hanging about in a government which is dead in the water anyway.Better to get out of the national picture and focus on being elected again as a simple MP - doesn't really matter who forms the Govt (Conservatives obviously - which I despair of) - more important you work hard to get yourself re elected to the gravy train for another 4 or 5 years.
4)In miracle scenario whereby labour get back in - you would blushingly agree to come off back bench's when Blairey type leader asks you (but it won't happen so discount this one). If GB kicked off in next few weeks you would possibly agree to come back in under new (another uneleceted PM!!)
Basically you are selfish and this latest little show confirms it even more than the expenses scandal. U r clearly just trying to bet each way on a number of runners in the interests of no one but yourself. I really hope your constituents see through you once and for all and do what you should be doing for them anyway.
Malcolm Amersham (03/06/2009 at 18:46)
william mchugh (03/06/2009 at 21:19)
salford expat, not salford any longer (03/06/2009 at 21:25)
She knew that Gordon no longer wanted her en voyage so she went, disgracefully, showing the full force of her wrath at the Brown leadership. She says she feels victimised and singled out. Perhaps thought should have been given to all the tax payers that she, in turn, has victimised by spending their monies inappropriately on herself. If the Salford Constituency Labour Party re-selects her they are foisting an unwanted candidate onto the electorate. I am sure that the staunch working-class citizens of Salford will not be fooled into re-electing her.
She must have to sleep with a coat hanger in her mouth for that fixed grin to keep emerging from her visage. Perhaps the corners of her mouth are tied to her ears. The pictures of her on TV and in the newspapers never change – except of course for the hairdo, charged at taxpayers’ expense no doubt. The whole look oozes insincerity from every pore, just like the woman herself, the words, the actions all mean nothing.
Hazel, In the name of God, go!
Allison Taylor (03/06/2009 at 23:04)
Unfortunately I don't think the true people of Salford will change their dedication and committment towards Labour. She is a very lucky lady returning to Salford, it is Salford that doesn't want her!!!! I shall await the knock on my door.
Valerie Power (04/06/2009 at 18:37)
heather ormandy (04/06/2009 at 22:41)
Mad Welsh Scotsman, Cadishead (05/06/2009 at 10:41)
had enough, Worsley (05/06/2009 at 14:45)
Stephanie Thomas (05/06/2009 at 21:48)
John Salford (06/06/2009 at 19:54)
www.hazelblears.co.uk
I have never read such a ridiculous piece of nonsense in my life.
As for her expenses, my wife is a nurse and is not even allowed to claim for dry cleaning her uniform if it gets covered in blood.
On the subject of her Cabinet resignation, I would suggest Blears has suddenly rediscovered her commitment to the people of Salford in an effort to save her neck at the next General Election.
I also believe (whatever your views on Gordon Brown) that the manner of her resignation is a prime example of her disloyalty, arrogance and spite. Wearing the 'Rocking the boat' badge amply illustrates her delusional view of her own importance in the great scheme of things.
As a resident of Salford I can assure you that I don't want or need someone like Hazel Blears as my 'Champion'.