Blears joins exodus from Brown Cabinet

LONDON, June 3 (UPI) -- British Communities Secretary Hazel Blears resigned from Prime Minister Gordon Brown's Cabinet Wednesday, the fourth departure in 24 hours, observers said.

Blears had been caught up in the country's parliamentary expense claims scandal, in which she was shown "flipping" a second home for which she had claimed expense reimbursements and for avoiding paying capital gains taxes on the sale of a London condominium, The Times of London reported.

Brown had called Blears' actions "totally unacceptable" and the timing of her resignation -- a week ahead of a planned Cabinet reshuffling -- was seen by political analysts as a clear attempt to undermine Brown's ability to reestablish his authority, the newspaper said.

Blears said in a statement, "Today I have told the Prime Minister that I am resigning from the government. My politics has always been rooted in the belief that ordinary people are capable of extraordinary things, given the right support and encouragement."

The Times said Brown's allies were convinced Blears' resignation was coordinated with those of Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, Children's Minister Beverley Hughes and Cabinet Office Minister Tom Watson for maximum impact on the prime minister.