Who actually knew she was in the Cabinet?? Ruth Kelly has always been out of her depth in Cabinet and been ineffective. Additionally, her religious views are non representative of the UK today and best left at home.

She won;t be missed.

Stuart Murray, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Few ministers are popular but she never grasped the brief of her jobs and what needed to be done. One of the most incompetent ministers ever. A product of Labour soft focus presentation at the expense of executive ability. Harman, Burnham and Blears next please.

Nick London, London, UK

Her kids loss is our gain. Bye bye Ruthy boy, take the rest of your uesless party with you.

Peter Mansell-Jones, London,

What we need is the Eton old boys running the country, now stop tittering at the back Cameron. Has anyone seen Osborne this week, not still on his hols. I trust ? Cameron I've told you once I won't tell you again boy !

mike, Lincoln, UK

mrs kelly was right in one statment labour has transformed britain,we now are spyed on by councils have dustbin police climbing into gardens litter police smoke police and accerdited persons (the licence to bully)we have every sort of police going except real ones she will not be missed

brian rice, halifax, u.k

Thank God!

andrew, bristol, uk

She has suddenly realised that she has 4 kids and the youngest is 5 attending the primary. It is 5 years too late. Why for once these Labourite characters tell the truth the Brown is finished.
She was inept and was promoted beyond her capability by Blair, the closet Catholic.

norman, LONDON, UK

About time this ridiculously incompetent individual left office. It's a shame she hasn't stepped down completely from her seat. Her beliefs have consistently set her at odd's with the role's she claimed to be able to deliver on. The only problem now is there is no-one better to replace her!

Gary Collett, London,

So Ruth Kelly wants to "spend more time with her family".

Errrrr, what about the full-time job she has as MP representing the constituents of Bolton West ?

I wish I could be paid £61,820 a year, while being allowed to "spend more time with my family"

A.Kirk, Bolton West,

Actually, she was the first to publiclily expose the lies and mess her educational policies were inflicting on us. Remember how she chose a private school for her child ? What position did this Jackie of all trades occupy?

helen, newcastle, uk

Good.

John D, Birmingham, UK

How nasty you all are. I wonder why anyone would want to go into the thankless job that is politics only to represent the likes of you lot? I suppose you'd all do a brilliant job, huh?

Anita, Cambridge, UK

Disgusting, self-obsessed, spineless gaggle for publicly coming out in "support" of an individual with not even a hint of Leadership ability, nor shame. Pls examine your consciences, if any left, and act now to stop the desparate series of "policies" and other cheap stunts, really anything to remain

Andy Britt, Brussels, Belgium

To the Ruth Kelly apologists. If she resigned for the reasons you suggest then why did she not say so. Why do politicians, appear incapable of telling the truth. Even now she lacks the courage and decency to be honest with the electorate. And Bryan, millions of people also agree with the bill!

Dean, Manea, Cambs, England

A wholsale implosion of cabinet chaos has just begun.
Just wait not only for other ministers to emerge declaring their reluctance to serve but also leaked rumours from those offered and refusing reshuffle switches, promotions or appointments.
The public will be amazed!

William Grierson, Kimpton, UK

What shame Gordon brown can't be convinced to "spend more time with his family" before he's given no option.

I assume Ms Kelly is also to resign as an MP, or is that only a part-time commitment? Perhaps she just wants to get out there job-hunting ahead of the 200+ ex-Labour MPs to follow in 2010

Stuart T, Plymouth, Devon

Hi yea,

Can Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly confirm she has not given permission for a third runway at Heathrow before she leaves.

Is she going before her decision will be announced for the runway??

Regards

Kenny Darcy, London, UK

This resignation was expected .
However, what will be interesting to see is if others either follow suit .
Even more fascinating--whether there will be those that declare that they were offered a new job in the forthcoming reshuffle and declined it.

William Grierson, Kimpton, UK

Gordon Brown - a "towering figure"? I would suggest an increasingly "lonely figure" is a better description. If the attrition rate of ministers continues he will soon be a one-man Government, and I suspect that even then he will still be insisting he is the best man for the job.

Neil, Gloucestershire, England

The prescription and home care issues apply to England - the rules are already totally different in Scotland. I think your rerprt should have said that, to avoid confusion for Welsh and Scottish readers.

Chris, Northampton, England

Old gordo is certainly a "towering figure in the party", as ruth kelly says. But a towering figure of what, that's the question. Answers on a postcard please.

Chris, Derby,

Perhaps it was Brown encouraging the nation's mothers to leave their children in the care of others with the bribe of free nursery care that gave Ruth Kelly the idea to return to hers, a signal she gave to the press which they have not yet decoded.

Bernard Lawson, London, England

Of course Kelly's resigning: her seat is very marginal. BTW Why didn't she want to see more of her kids when they were younger?

gerry, exeter, england

Brown says he knew she wanted to go in May. OK, so why didn't she resign when parliament went into recess?
Who wakes people up at 2am to tell them that they're going to resign?
Brown et al must take us for complete numpties.
Just for his info, we didn't all come down with the rain!!

Keith, Grantham,

Let's hope that the position is not filled with another faith-head. Little hope though, if you read our politicians CV's they all seem to have religious conviction. Where are the successors to Charles Bradlaugh? Incidentally there is some celebration of Bradlaugh's life in Northampton this sunday.

John Mills, Raunds, UK

The tone of anti-Catholicism and mysogyny in many of the vicious comments posted on Ruth Kelly say much more about the writers than her. She is a principled politician who should be congratulated on having managed for so long a very demanding role as a mother with a tough cabinet assignment.

Bernie, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

'Family reasons', i.e. 'Brown's hitmen are holding my children hostage, but frankly hearing his god-awful speech was enough of an incentive for me'.

James, Newcastle,

"I think it's a mistake to generalise from something I think every parent will understand is a decision made about her children."

What a pity he doesn't feel the same dilemma, but then he has the lovely Sarah at home holding the fort.

At least she was until yesterday, but now we have Team Brown.

nemesis, scotland,

I am shocked by the personal comments against a very talented MP and Cabinet minister.If the Rt. Hon Ruth Kelly MP had resigned on principle because of the controversial Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill which will allow the creation of human/animal hybrid embryos without there being any evidence to suggest that embryonic stem cell research will yield any cures, or the creation of babies for spare parts or allow for the removal of a child's need for a father then it would be understandable. Millions of people around the country(see www.passionforlife.org.uk) are opposed to this Bill on principle for ethical, religious, philosophical and personal reasons.

Bryan Michell, Sheffield, England

Yes Ruth the Labour Party has transformed Britian.
Just you take a real good look at the state the country is in after your 11 years of total ineptitude.
As for Brown being a "towering figure" , if that's what you think, you should get a good nanny for your children and stay at work !

Martin Briggs, Heversham, England

Good riddance, an exceedingly poor politician, its amazing how they find these jobs, probably only with strong academics and with a posh voice but a head filled with nothing but STUPID ideas and little intelligence....

C. Kroustis, London, UK

another rat jumps ship "-I was always going to leave the Cabinet" - yeah right we believe you and in Father Christmas too

peter c, Devizes, Wessex

Total waste of space and fresh air like the rest of them.

Billy Barnett, HK,

She was inept .
The fewer religious freaks in government the better.
Brown should be next.
Fortunately delusional holier-than-thou Tony has already gone.

Douglas Maxwell, Richmond, Yorkshire

Has she only just realised she has got kids. Where has she been for the first 11 years life of one of her kids.
I think she might be kidding about the reason for her departure if you pardon the pun.

rob, ashbourne, uk

Nice one. I thought Zanulabour were doing something about knife crime.
Shes just put one in Gordons chest.

ronnie, bucks, UK

The image of sinking ships and disembarking small furry creatures comes to mind

G Irvine, glasgow, uk

Has there ever been a government with less talent than the current administration? Mrs. Kelly never had, or will have, what it takes to be a minister. Membership of Opus Dei should have ruled her out anyway. Either she works for Britain or the Vatican. As for that weird and irritating nasal whine

Burnley Bob, Liverpool, England

Brown's endorsement of Harman was a straight forward statement to the country. THIS PARTY WILL UPHOLD GOOD OLD FASHIONED BIGOTRY - DISCRIMINATION AGAINST MEN AND WHITE PEOPLE. I'm not surprised Kelly wishes to resign - who would want their name associated with such extreme 'ideals'.

Simon, York, England

hopefully the new Transport Secretary will undo the decision to increase car tax which will see the annual tax on a family Vauxhall Zafira 2002 model almost double next year to £310

Mike, Sole Street, England

One down

Kevin, Workington, Cumbria

She's definitely made the right decision. Working with Brown must have be like being on the bridge of the Titanic , knowing you're going to hit an iceberg , and the captain insisting he is the only man capable of navigation the ship safely into port.

Beckerman, London,

Can any future minister please note -

'we expect you to be working 24/7 for the country. If you are contemplating having a family over the next ten years, please decline the job.'

Ageism? Sexism? I don't care. I want this country to be in safe hands, not in a maternity unit somewhere.

Tim, Sherborne, England

A rank amateur. No loss Good Riddance.

Paul, Lincoln, Lincolnshire

I think she was on her way out in the next cabinet shuffle/sacking anyway.

Good luck to her.

DH, Newport, UK

nothing to do with telling friends she was 'disgusted' by Mr Brown's speech?

Mike, Sole Street, England

Well - It's a start....

Mark, Birmingham, UK

This woman was an incompetent, embarassing excuse of a minister. A product of Labour's obsession with filling the ranks with 'quotas' of minorities regardless of their abilities (or lack of) and that voice....

Brian Roberts, Oliva, Spain

Another failed apprentice gone!

Crowther, Silsden, England

Good riddance. She is a serial incompetent who should never have been a minister in the first place. That she actually achieved some of the highest offices of state speaks volumes for the talentless chancers at the top of the Labour party.

James Lough, Newcastle, UK

It appears that there is one Labour minister that isn't as stupid as they look .

Benzo, Nr Chelmsford,

Brown is missing the point.
Brown should forget the apologies, forget the excuses, forget the back stabbers in his party, forget the media trying to fry up a headline and just put his head down and get on with the job - that way, Brown might even have a political future.
Think KamiKaze.

Ivan de Nemethy, London, Murder Mile

This is the best headline I've seen in ages

Millie, London,

'More time with the family', what utter rot. She knew she was about to be sacked and jumped. In any case she was going to lose her seat at the next election. First of many I hope...

Dean, Manea, Cambs, England

If she disappears how will we notice the difference?

Mike, Saffron Walden,

Spend more time with the family, or preparing for the end of the NuLabour administration ?
As we move towards a General Election, it is inevitable that some Labour ministers will be considering an afterlife in the private sector !
Only time will tell as to Kelly's real motive.

Peter Hooperp, Windsor, UK

Presumably she will also resign her pension, salary and plasma TV allowance? No? Didn't think so...

Nobby Clark, Perth, the Scottish one, UK

This is the start of the rats leaving the s(t)inking ship,how many more will suddenly put their families first?.

Keneth O'Boyle, Perth, UK

Do you think Ruth could be encouraged to take Gordon Brown with her? Maybe we could pay her to do so. Tell you what she is one smart girl, she knows an election is coming and Labour will be wiped out.

Lloyd, London,

Women and children first - man the lifeboats!

Wills, Soton, UK

No great loss. Transport department should include the car as form of transport and still in my view is the most popular way to travel. What have Labour ever done for the motorist? Perscute and tax in favour of unionised public transport service which a take longer and go on strike!

steve tea, manchester, cheshire