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Blunkett quits Cabinet

Hasan Suroor

Charge of breaking the code of conduct

LONDON: British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Wednesday lost one of his most loyal Cabinet Ministers when David Blunkett, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, was forced to resign over allegations of breaking the ministerial code of conduct.

This is the second time that Mr. Blunkett has had to leave the Cabinet because of controversies relating to his private life. He was forced to quit as Home Secretary last December following accusations that he helped fast-track the visa application of his former mistress Kimberly Quinn's nanny.

Pension reforms

Mr. Blair brought him back to the Cabinet in the summer to push through controversial pension reforms despite reservations among party MPs and Cabinet colleagues.

The roots of Mr. Blunkett's current difficulties lie in the period when he was out of office and took a string of private assignments without informing the independent watchdog on ministerial conduct.

Even former ministers are expected to take its advice while taking up work in the private sector, especially if it might be perceived as a conflict of interest. The most damaging allegation was that Mr. Blunkett bought shares in a bio-technology firm which he joined as a director after leaving the Cabinet, and which lobbies for Government work.

Company stake sold

The firm is run by a controversial Asian businessman who introduced him to a woman with a view to bringing them together when Mr. Blunkett was said to be "lonely'' and "depressed'' after breaking off with Ms. Quinn.

After the row broke, Mr. Blunkett admitted that it was a "mistake'' not to have taken the advice of the committee which oversees ministerial conduct. He also announced that he was selling his shares in the company but as pressure continued, he decided to resign on Wednesday.

Mr. Blair "reluctantly'' accepted Mr. Blunkett's resignation but insisted that he had done nothing wrong.

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