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| Maria Miller resigns as culture secretary in blow to David Cameron | |
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| Maria Miller has resigned as culture secretary after telling David Cameron that her continued presence around the cabinet table would act as a distraction to the "vital work" of the government. | Maria Miller has resigned as culture secretary after telling David Cameron that her continued presence around the cabinet table would act as a distraction to the "vital work" of the government. |
| Hours before Cameron was expected to face a bumpy session in the House of Commons on Wednesday, Miller released a letter to the prime minister saying she would resign with immediate effect. | Hours before Cameron was expected to face a bumpy session in the House of Commons on Wednesday, Miller released a letter to the prime minister saying she would resign with immediate effect. |
| Her resignation marks a severe blow to the personal authority to the prime minister, who had called on the press to "leave it there" on Friday, a day after Miller issued an abrupt 32-second apology over her expenses. | Her resignation marks a severe blow to the personal authority to the prime minister, who had called on the press to "leave it there" on Friday, a day after Miller issued an abrupt 32-second apology over her expenses. |
| Miller, after consulting with her family and hearing the mood in the Conservative party, decided to ring Cameron on Tuesday night to tell him that she wanted to resign. She spoke to him after he attended the state dinner with the Irish president at Windsor Castle. | Miller, after consulting with her family and hearing the mood in the Conservative party, decided to ring Cameron on Tuesday night to tell him that she wanted to resign. She spoke to him after he attended the state dinner with the Irish president at Windsor Castle. |
| Downing Street announced that Sajid Javid, the financial secretary to the treasury, would take over as culture secretary. A wider cabinet reshuffle is expected in the summer. | Downing Street announced that Sajid Javid, the financial secretary to the treasury, would take over as culture secretary. A wider cabinet reshuffle is expected in the summer. |
| The culture secretary has been fighting for her political life since she was ordered by the Commons standards committee to apologise for her conduct towards the parliamentary standards watchdog during an investigation into her expenses. | The culture secretary has been fighting for her political life since she was ordered by the Commons standards committee to apologise for her conduct towards the parliamentary standards watchdog during an investigation into her expenses. |
| Miller was ordered to repay £5,800 in overclaimed expenses related to her mortgage on her "second" home in Wimbledon – bought nine years before her election to parliament in 2005. Miller has faced intense pressure because the sum was considerably lower than the £45,000 repayment recommended by the standards watchdog Kathryn Hudson. | Miller was ordered to repay £5,800 in overclaimed expenses related to her mortgage on her "second" home in Wimbledon – bought nine years before her election to parliament in 2005. Miller has faced intense pressure because the sum was considerably lower than the £45,000 repayment recommended by the standards watchdog Kathryn Hudson. |
| In a letter to Miller, the prime minister pointed out that she had been cleared of the original complaint lodged by the Labour MP John Mann – that she had abused the system of expenses by allowing her parents to live at the Wimbledon home that was subsidised in part by parliamentary expenses. | In a letter to Miller, the prime minister pointed out that she had been cleared of the original complaint lodged by the Labour MP John Mann – that she had abused the system of expenses by allowing her parents to live at the Wimbledon home that was subsidised in part by parliamentary expenses. |
| But Miller decided to go as it became clear that she enjoyed little support on the Tory benches, where rightwingers have never forgiven her for her role in introducing the legislation that legalised gay marriage. Moderate Tories felt she had mishandled the response to the standards committee report with her peremptory apology last week. | But Miller decided to go as it became clear that she enjoyed little support on the Tory benches, where rightwingers have never forgiven her for her role in introducing the legislation that legalised gay marriage. Moderate Tories felt she had mishandled the response to the standards committee report with her peremptory apology last week. |
| In her letter to the prime minister, Miller wrote: "It is with great regret that I have decided that I should tender my resignation as a member of the cabinet. I am very grateful to you for your personal support but it has become clear to me that the present situation has become a distraction from the vital work this government is doing to turn our country around." | In her letter to the prime minister, Miller wrote: "It is with great regret that I have decided that I should tender my resignation as a member of the cabinet. I am very grateful to you for your personal support but it has become clear to me that the present situation has become a distraction from the vital work this government is doing to turn our country around." |
| Michael Gove, the education secretary who was elected to parliament on the same day as Miller in 2005, said that her resignation should serve as a warning to the political class as a whole about their expenses. | Michael Gove, the education secretary who was elected to parliament on the same day as Miller in 2005, said that her resignation should serve as a warning to the political class as a whole about their expenses. |
| In a sign that Downing Street acknowledges the need for further reform of the policing of MPs, Gove told the Today programme on BBC Radio 4: "The political class as a whole need to reflect on the events of the last few days. It reinforces in my mind the fact that the public still feel a degree of anger about the expenses scandal. | In a sign that Downing Street acknowledges the need for further reform of the policing of MPs, Gove told the Today programme on BBC Radio 4: "The political class as a whole need to reflect on the events of the last few days. It reinforces in my mind the fact that the public still feel a degree of anger about the expenses scandal. |
| "This is a judgment on the political class overall and Westminster overall. It is a warning to us to take these issues incredibly seriously and to recognise that there is a question of public trust in the political process and the capacity of politicians to police themselves which requires to be addressed." | "This is a judgment on the political class overall and Westminster overall. It is a warning to us to take these issues incredibly seriously and to recognise that there is a question of public trust in the political process and the capacity of politicians to police themselves which requires to be addressed." |
| Gove, who said he was saddened by Miller's departure, said she had decided to resign. "It is sad to see a colleague who has worked incredibly hard leave the government. But I also know that Maria felt that her presence in government was damaging our ability to make other arguments, to get on with the job of making the changes we need. So she decided it would be better for the government if she left it." | Gove, who said he was saddened by Miller's departure, said she had decided to resign. "It is sad to see a colleague who has worked incredibly hard leave the government. But I also know that Maria felt that her presence in government was damaging our ability to make other arguments, to get on with the job of making the changes we need. So she decided it would be better for the government if she left it." |
| Miller's decision to go spared Cameron from having to defend her at prime minister's questions, as well as avoided what could have been a stormy meeting later of the Tory 1922 backbench committee. In a sign that the government had not been expecting her resignation, Gove had been despatched to appear on the Today programme, and Andrew Lansley, the leader of the House of Commons, had appeared to defend her on BBC2's Newsnight on Tuesday. | Miller's decision to go spared Cameron from having to defend her at prime minister's questions, as well as avoided what could have been a stormy meeting later of the Tory 1922 backbench committee. In a sign that the government had not been expecting her resignation, Gove had been despatched to appear on the Today programme, and Andrew Lansley, the leader of the House of Commons, had appeared to defend her on BBC2's Newsnight on Tuesday. |
| John Mann, the Labour MP who lodged the original complaint about Miller, welcomed her resignation. He told the Today programme: "My reaction is about time too. Where's the prime minister been for the last five days not sacking Maria Miller?" | John Mann, the Labour MP who lodged the original complaint about Miller, welcomed her resignation. He told the Today programme: "My reaction is about time too. Where's the prime minister been for the last five days not sacking Maria Miller?" |
| A Labour party spokesperson, responding to Miller's resignation, said: "It is welcome that Maria Miller has finally done the right thing. By resigning she has recognised that the public expect and deserve the highest standards from politicians. | A Labour party spokesperson, responding to Miller's resignation, said: "It is welcome that Maria Miller has finally done the right thing. By resigning she has recognised that the public expect and deserve the highest standards from politicians. |
| "Labour said all along that you cannot have one rule for a cabinet minister and one rule for everybody else. That it came to this raises questions for David Cameron whose judgment has been found wanting. Yet again he has shown himself to be out of touch and a prime minister who only stands up for one of his own". | "Labour said all along that you cannot have one rule for a cabinet minister and one rule for everybody else. That it came to this raises questions for David Cameron whose judgment has been found wanting. Yet again he has shown himself to be out of touch and a prime minister who only stands up for one of his own". |
| Miller pledged her continuing support for the government, adding: "I will continue to support you and the work of the government as you move forward. Ensuring the best future for the people of Basingstoke has been my priority throughout the last nine years. Whether on the front or back benches of the House of Commons I will continue this work." | Miller pledged her continuing support for the government, adding: "I will continue to support you and the work of the government as you move forward. Ensuring the best future for the people of Basingstoke has been my priority throughout the last nine years. Whether on the front or back benches of the House of Commons I will continue this work." |
| The prime minister offered strong support for Miller and hailed her role in introducing gay marriage. Cameron wrote: "You can be extremely proud of your work in government – as secretary of state for Culture, Media and Sport, as minister for women and as minister for disabled Ppeople. | The prime minister offered strong support for Miller and hailed her role in introducing gay marriage. Cameron wrote: "You can be extremely proud of your work in government – as secretary of state for Culture, Media and Sport, as minister for women and as minister for disabled Ppeople. |
| "You have been responsible for successfully handling two of the most controversial issues with which this government has dealt. As culture secretary, you have played a critical role in advancing Britain's proud record of respect and equality in piloting the Equal Marriage Act through parliament and on to the statute book. There are many people in our country today, and there will be many in the future, who will always be grateful for this very important change, which you did so much to bring about." | "You have been responsible for successfully handling two of the most controversial issues with which this government has dealt. As culture secretary, you have played a critical role in advancing Britain's proud record of respect and equality in piloting the Equal Marriage Act through parliament and on to the statute book. There are many people in our country today, and there will be many in the future, who will always be grateful for this very important change, which you did so much to bring about." |
| The prime minister had been determined to resist calls for Miller's resignation because of her role in introducing such a landmark social change. He was also resentful of the way in which papers were focusing on Miller because of her role in introducing the Leveson reforms. | The prime minister had been determined to resist calls for Miller's resignation because of her role in introducing such a landmark social change. He was also resentful of the way in which papers were focusing on Miller because of her role in introducing the Leveson reforms. |
| But even supporters believe that Downing Street has shown a tin ear. The first mistake was in allowing Miller to make such a brief apology. Cameron then compounded this with his dismissive response on Friday when he told journalists to leave the matter alone. | But even supporters believe that Downing Street has shown a tin ear. The first mistake was in allowing Miller to make such a brief apology. Cameron then compounded this with his dismissive response on Friday when he told journalists to leave the matter alone. |