Post by Salem6 on Dec 15, 2004 17:34:02 GMT
David Blunkett has quit as home secretary following a string of newspaper claims that he fast-tracked a visa for his ex-lover's nanny.
Mr Blunkett has been in the media glare for much of the last month
Mr Blunkett denies the claims but has faced increasing pressure in recent days from members of his own party.
Downing Street has stood by Mr Blunkett as an inquiry was launched into the allegations.
But his position became more uncertain after he criticised a string of Cabinet colleagues in a new biography.
Fresh claims
A copy of a new biography of Mr Blunkett - containing attacks on colleagues - was hurled across the Commons chamber by government Chief Whip Hilary Armstrong.
Her gesture was widely interpreted as expressing her frustration at the continuing controversy enveloping the Home Secretary.
Mr Blunkett had earlier denied fresh claims that he helped fast-track a tourist visa for his ex-lover Kimberly Quinn's Filipina nanny.
The Daily Mail said Leoncia Casalme obtained an Austria tourist visa - normally a four-week process - in days.
The Home Office said Mrs Quinn had told Mr Blunkett about the Austrian visa but it denied he had become involved.
Austria's ambassador said the visa was granted as normal, and that there had been no Home Office contact with them.
An inquiry by ex-civil servant Sir Alan Budd is already under way into claims Mr Blunkett fast-tracked Ms Casalme's application to stay in the UK and is expected to report before Christmas
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4099581.stm
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Y A W N Bring back Thatcher, @ least we had summing 2 react 2.
Still got a pic in me head of Blair & Bush sniggering - FUCK EM ALL!