The British Home Secretary Jacqui Smith today became the first Cabinet casualty of the MPs' expenses scandal.
It was revealed she told Gordon Brown within days of revelations about her finances that she wanted to quit the Government in a reshuffle.
Ms Smith was the most high profile among a clutch of resignations to hit the British Prime Minister today, including two further members of his administration.
The moves created a momentum that threatens to de-rail his planned relaunch in the wake of what are expected to be abysmal polling results for Labour in the council and MEP elections on Thursday.
Children's Minister Beverley Hughes announced she wanted to leave in the shake-up - for family reasons - and Cabinet Office Minister Tom Watson is also expected to step down.
Labour backbencher David Chaytor confirmed he would retire at the next election to contest claims he reaped almost £13,000 in taxpayers' cash on a mortgage that did not exist.
In addition, ex-Cabinet minister Patricia Hewitt, relatively untouched by the expenses furore, said she was not seeking re-election, to concentrate on charity work in India.
Sources close to the Home Secretary said Ms Smith was so hurt by revelations in March - including repaying £10 her husband Richard Timney, who works as her assistant, claimed for watching two adult films - that she told Mr Brown just days later that she wanted to quit.
