Blunkett resignation justified by persistent and continued flouting of rules

2.43.52pm GMT Wed 2nd Nov 2005

David Laws MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, responding to David Blunkett's resignation, said "David Blunkett's departure was both inevitable and justified by his continual flouting of ministerial rules in what appeared to be in his own financial interests. His exit from the Cabinet became increasingly inevitable as he refused to acknowledge his mistakes, and as it became clear that he had been warned on a number of occasions about ministerial rules.

Today following the circumstances of David Blunkett's resignation, Liberal Democrat Leader Charles Kennedy challenged the Prime Minister over the operation of the Ministerial Code of Conduct, pointing out that it was "absurd that an ex-minister is obliged to seek advice, but not actually to take that advice." The Prime Minister conceded that "ministers are expected when they leave office to take the advice of the Independent Advisory Committee, and obviously that has to be made clear - it certainly is very clear now I would say."