"We therefore owe it to our country to give it a real choice. We need to show that we are prepared to fight to be a credible government and have the courage to offer an alternative future.

I am therefore calling on you to stand aside to give our Party a fighting chance of winning. As such I am resigning from government.

The Party was here long before us, and we want it to be here long after we have gone. We must do the right thing by it."

How much longer can this go on? Early results suggest a Labour wipeout in many regions where local elections were taking place. Another minister resigns: Link through image...

P.S. Anyone seen Blair? Don't forget his part in all this.