Well done Clare - just a bit late but never mind about that

12.52.54pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 20th Oct 2006

Clare Short has resigned the Labour Whip and, I am told, from the Labour Party. Of course this is the right thing to do, but in normal Clare style is just a bit late again - maybe if she had principles she would have done it when Blair order, or agreed to, the invasion of Iraq. Clare has said previously "I have reached a stage where I am profoundly ashamed of the government,"

The Liberal Democrats are second in Birmingham Ladywood, and had a massive (over 20%) swing to us in the 2005 General Election. Clare's latest twist could mean this is a constituency to watch.

Before anyone, including Clare, gets too excited I doubt we would accept Clare as member of the Liberal Democrats and I, as a Regional Executive member, would certainly oppose any such move. Clare is not Liberal neither is she a Democrat and shares none of our core beliefs.

Clare Short's resignation letter:

Dear Jacqui,

I am sorry it has come to this, but after a lifetime of service to the Labour Party and twenty-three years in the House of Commons I think I am entitled to discuss what has gone wrong with the Government and our political system in my remaining years as an MP.

It is my view that our political system is in trouble and that the exaggerated majorities in the House of Commons have led to an abject parliament and a concentration of power in Number 10 that has produced arrogant, error prone government.

Given that the next election might well produce a hung parliament, I want to be free to argue that this creates a valuable opportunity to reform our voting system so that the House of Commons more accurately reflects public opinion and we have a parliament more able to hold the Government to account and to ensure that policy is well considered.

As you know I am critical of many other aspects of Government policy.

The previous Chief Whip tried to use her authority to stop me discussing the fact that the Prime Minister engaged in a series of half-truths and deceits to get us to war in Iraq. You focus on my views on electoral reform.

The consequence is a string of rebukes, usually through the media. In the circumstances I think the best way to ensure that I can put forward my views for my remaining time in parliament is for me to resign the Whip.

I will therefore sit in the House of Commons as an independent Labour MP.

I remain proud of the history of the Labour Party and a convinced Social Democrat.

Yours sincerely,

Clare Short