Short resigns as Labour MP
Former British Cabinet minister Clare Short has resigned as a Labour MP to become an independent for the rest of this Parliament, it was confirmed today.
Chief whip Jacqui Smith said it was a “shame” and criticised Ms Short for announcing her decision to the media before telling party chiefs.
“Many people remember her contributions to the Labour Party and government and it is a shame that, following my reprimand to her for advocating the defeat of her Labour colleagues at the next election and several recent warnings about her lack of attendance, she has decided to resign the Labour Whip,” she said.
“It is unfortunate she decided to announce this through a leak to the media rather than to her constituency Labour Party“.
Ms Smith is believed not to have formally received a resignation letter from Ms Short, despite a copy being shown by the BBC.
But the name of the Birmingham Ladywood MP has already been removed from a list of MPs on the official Labour Party website.
Ms Short escaped expulsion from the Labour Party earlier this month after calling on voters to abandon it to force a hung Parliament.
She announced she was stepping down at the next election with a vicious swipe at Tony Blair, saying she was “profoundly ashamed” of the British government.
Ms Short quit as International Development Secretary in the immediate aftermath of the Iraq war over her opposition to the invasion.
