Minister resigns over Brown leadership

David Cairns on the BBC today as he explained his resignation

Tuesday, 16, Sep 2008 06:13

Scottish Office minister David Cairns has resigned over Gordon Brown's leadership.

Reports that Mr Cairns was examining his conscience started to consolidate this afternoon until Downing Street confirmed the resignation just after 15:00 BST.

"I've heard people use the phrase I have a heavy heart before but I never knew what it meant," he said. "Until today. Today, I have a heavy heart.

"I'm somebody who has never uttered a public word of criticism of a Labour government.

"But in the last few days, few weeks, perhaps even the last few month. I have come to the conclusion that where we are at the moment - not just the polls, but the by-elections too - we need to opportunity to clear the air and have that discussion."

Mr Cairns said he counselled against the methods of the 12 rebels who sent letters to senior party figures calling for nomination forms to be sent to members.

But "rather than seize the opportunity to have the debate, our government chose to diminish the claims, chose to say they were malcontents, they were stupid," he told the BBC.

"Fundamentally, where we are at the moment - to be so far behind a vacuous Tory party, - means we have to at least be prepared to ask ourselves the question.

"Today the National Executive Committee (NEC) quite simply is not prepared to even face the question.

"If they're not prepared to face the question the chances of coming up with the answer are quite remote."

In a letter to Mr Cairns, Mr Brown wrote he accepted Mr Cairns' resignation "with regret" but said the current global financial climate made it a bad time to take the decision.

"I do not agree with you that this is the time the Labour party should be focused on internal debates," he said.

Mr Cairn's constituency office was unable to comment on developments but the Scottish National party (SNP) siezed on the development.

"The UK government is falling apart," said SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson.

"This is a body blow to Gordon Brown. David Cairns is not a minor whip but a minister of state, just one level below Cabinet minister.

"Now that one previously loyal minister has resigned, others must surely be considering their positions."

Defence secretary Des Browne, who shares Office responsibilites with Mr Cairns, is understood to have tried to talk him down, but to no avail.

Rumours about Mr Cairn's dissappointment with Mr Brown's leadership had grown so strong throughout the day his position had become all but untenable, with a sacking looming if he had not gone of his own accord.

Stephen Pound, the veteran and high-profile Labour MP, spoke angrily about the resignation.

"A lot of us should be worried about why David Cairns chose to put party over country," he said.

"If anyone thinks that by resigning as a minister of state you help anyone with the issues facing this country they're very much mistaken."

Mr Pound said the move looked "like self-indulgence".

"[This] really isn't helping the situation," he continued.

Mr Cairns is a very close ally of another leading rebel, Siobhain McDonagh, the former government whip who resigned last week.

A ministerial resignation presents the prime minister with his most significant challenge so far. Up to this point, the rebellion had been consigned to relatively junior positions, such as a junior whip and vice-chair. All other rebels have been backbenchers.

Other media reports continue to cite up to three ministers considering resignation.

Mr Cairn's name was kept anonymous by the BBC last night but began to be mentioned in reports – somewhat tentatively – this morning.

The development has already led bookmakers to cut the odds of Mr Brown making it to the end of the year as prime minister.

Over the course of the day, William Hill's odds went from 7/4 to 13/8.

"This is just one more indication that there is growing dis-satisfaction with Gordon Brown amongst Labour Party members," said spokesman Graham Sharpe.

"Ninty-five per cent of the bets we have taken in this market so far are for Mr Brown to depart rather than to see the year out."

Mr Brown is currently in Stormont meeting political leaders. Given Mr Craig's loyalty to Ms McDonagh, it is still quite possible the move will not precipitate a further wave of senior resignations.

Mr Brown will have to hope there are no further developments over the next few days if he is to have any chance of conbducting a successful conference.