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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Lord Sainsbury quits as minister | Lord Sainsbury quits as minister |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Science minister Lord Sainsbury - one of Labour's biggest donors and a close ally of Tony Blair - has resigned, citing personal reasons. | Science minister Lord Sainsbury - one of Labour's biggest donors and a close ally of Tony Blair - has resigned, citing personal reasons. |
| The supermarket billionaire was one of 48 people questioned by police over the "cash-for-honours" affair. | The supermarket billionaire was one of 48 people questioned by police over the "cash-for-honours" affair. |
| He was also cleared of breaching the ministerial code in April after failing to disclose a £2m loan to Labour. | He was also cleared of breaching the ministerial code in April after failing to disclose a £2m loan to Labour. |
| Lord Sainsbury - who is replaced by Malcolm Wicks - said this had "no connection" with his resignation. | |
| Future plans | Future plans |
| Prime Minister Tony Blair said the science minister had been a "huge asset" to the country. | Prime Minister Tony Blair said the science minister had been a "huge asset" to the country. |
| I've always been rather a keen supporter of more public funding of parties Lord Sainsbury Scientists praise ex-minister Profile: Lord Sainsbury | I've always been rather a keen supporter of more public funding of parties Lord Sainsbury Scientists praise ex-minister Profile: Lord Sainsbury |
| Mr Wicks is leaving the post of energy minister to replace Lord Sainsbury. | |
| Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling will take responsibility for energy policy. | |
| Chancellor Gordon Brown denied Lord Sainsbury was "leaving a sinking ship", telling BBC News 24 the peer had "always made it clear he would leave after a certain time". | Chancellor Gordon Brown denied Lord Sainsbury was "leaving a sinking ship", telling BBC News 24 the peer had "always made it clear he would leave after a certain time". |
| "He wanted to get back to his charitable work in particular," added Mr Brown. | "He wanted to get back to his charitable work in particular," added Mr Brown. |
| Lord Sainsbury earlier revealed he would be carrying out a review of government science policy for Mr Brown over the next few months. | Lord Sainsbury earlier revealed he would be carrying out a review of government science policy for Mr Brown over the next few months. |
| The former chairman of the Sainsbury supermarket empire was ennobled in 1997 and became science minister the next year. | The former chairman of the Sainsbury supermarket empire was ennobled in 1997 and became science minister the next year. |
| He is believed to have donated £6.5m to Labour since 2002. | He is believed to have donated £6.5m to Labour since 2002. |
| Lord Sainsbury told the BBC he would not be returning to work for the supermarket. | Lord Sainsbury told the BBC he would not be returning to work for the supermarket. |
| 'Time is right' | 'Time is right' |
| He said: "I've done eight years in the job. | He said: "I've done eight years in the job. |
| "I've achieved most of what I can achieve, and I think now is the time really to get back to all my other business and charitable activities, which I've not been able to do during the last eight years." | "I've achieved most of what I can achieve, and I think now is the time really to get back to all my other business and charitable activities, which I've not been able to do during the last eight years." |
| Lord Sainsbury apologised earlier this year about the £2m undisclosed loan, saying he had confused it with a declared donation he had made. | Lord Sainsbury apologised earlier this year about the £2m undisclosed loan, saying he had confused it with a declared donation he had made. |
| On being quizzed over the "cash-for-honours" affair, he told the BBC: "I was interviewed by the police as a witness as I had also given a loan. But of course I am not a fund raiser for the party. | On being quizzed over the "cash-for-honours" affair, he told the BBC: "I was interviewed by the police as a witness as I had also given a loan. But of course I am not a fund raiser for the party. |
| "I have had a peerage for eight or nine years, so there is no question of buying a peerage." | "I have had a peerage for eight or nine years, so there is no question of buying a peerage." |
| Blair tribute | Blair tribute |
| Lord Sainsbury said he had "always been rather a keen supporter of more public funding of parties". | Lord Sainsbury said he had "always been rather a keen supporter of more public funding of parties". |
| "I think it just removes the whole of government from the issue of raising funds," he added. | "I think it just removes the whole of government from the issue of raising funds," he added. |
| Mr Blair said the minister had "worked tirelessly to push the case for science within government". | Mr Blair said the minister had "worked tirelessly to push the case for science within government". |
| "It is in no small part down to him that this country's science base is in better shape than for decades, something of vital importance for this country's future. | "It is in no small part down to him that this country's science base is in better shape than for decades, something of vital importance for this country's future. |
| "His contribution to government will have a huge impact in future decades and we owe him a real debt of gratitude." | "His contribution to government will have a huge impact in future decades and we owe him a real debt of gratitude." |
| In the mini-reshuffle caused by Lord Sainsbury's resignation, environment minister Ben Bradshaw becomes a minister of state and Lord Truscott is made an unpaid parliamentary secretary at the Department of Trade and Industry. |