f*** off and take your dog with you

Work and Pensions Secretary David Blunkett has resigned after a meeting with Tony Blair in Downing Street. Mr Blunkett had been under pressure after breaking the ministerial code of conduct over paid work he took while he was out of Cabinet. Downing Street had been standing by Mr Blunkett's ability to continue in his job, despite making a "mistake". It is the second time Mr Blunkett has had to quit the Cabinet, resigning as home secretary in December 2004. At the centre of the controversy was Mr Blunkett's two-week directorship of DNA Bioscience before May's election, while he was out of the Cabinet. Mr Blunkett broke ministerial rules by taking that job without consulting an independent committee which advises former ministers on whether they should take up jobs. A defiant Mr Blunkett had told his local Sheffield newspaper on Tuesday that he was not prepared to quit. Mr Blunkett stepped down as home secretary last year over claims his office had fast-tracked a visa application for his lover's former nanny. He had been due to appear before the Commons work and pensions committee on Wednesday morning. But with the MPs gathered and the hearing due to begin, Mr Blunkett was seen heading towards Downing Street and the chairman announced that the meeting had been cancelled. Liberal Democrat member Greg Mulholland said he was glad to hear Mr Blunkett had quit. "I think he's done the right thing, having done several quite blatantly wrong things," he said. "I think it's another example where once confidence is lost in a secretary of state, then they have no alternative but to go. And I'm glad that he's taken that decision to do that finally." Helen Jackson, a former Labour MP and friend of Mr Blunkett, said she was sorry to see him go. "The government is lighter as a result ... He was a very effective leader of Sheffield City Council. He's been a very effective minister and Secretary for State for Education, Home Secretary and now Work and Pensions," she told BBC News 24. "The government as a whole will clearly miss him." -- Every single SU and FCUM member is now an enemy of Manchester United, and the Conservative Party. Do what must be done. Do not hesitate. Show no mercy.