HOWZAT

Later, the Prime Minister was challenged on BBC Radio 4 whether he was aware that four Cabinet ministers including Ms Kelly had been plotting to resign together in a co-ordinated move against him. Mr Brown said he was not.

Last night some sources suggested that James Purnell and David Miliband had to talk Ms Kelly out of resigning earlier. She is known to be angered by briefing to some newspapers over the last month that she was preparing to stand down.

She told reporters the move had been "purely a family decision" and said the timing of the news emerging had been "completely unexpected".

Ms Kelly also stressed that she was a "great supporter of the Labour Party" and it had "transformed" Britain since 1997.

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Ruth Kelly's announcement is a massive blow to Gordon Brown because of its timing

Philip Webster

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In her speech to the Labour Party Conference this morning Ms Kelly said she was confident that Labour “has the values, vision and determination to see this country through difficult times”. But added that the party "can and must do even better."

She said: "I am leaving the stage today but I will be with this great party all the way in the battle to keep improving our country."

She denied rumours she had been unhappy with the “direction” of Government, and indicated she was not aware of other ministers about to follow her out of the door.

Mr Brown bought himself time with a warmly acclaimed speech to the Labour conference yesterday.

In his 53-minute address, the Prime Minister announced plans to scrap prescription charges for cancer patients and to help elderly people to stay in their homes rather than go into care.

Several Labour MPs told The Times that the speech and its reception should ease his path with the parliamentary party when they returned to the Commons. But none was prepared to look far beyond that. If the opinion polls do not improve he could soon find himself under pressure again. Privately, prominent Blairites seemed less impressed than other MPs.

The speech pleased the Left. Derek Simpson, joint leader of the Unite union, said that Mr Brown had scored an “injury-time winner”. Mr Miliband hailed the speech as excellent, adding: “I think Gordon found his true voice.”

George Osborne, the Shadow Chancellor, said: “This was the same old Brown: no apology for the mess he’s got the country into, no new ideas that show us how he’s going to get out of it. Gordon Brown is retreating to the left to save his job. A divided government and a weak prime minister cannot lead the country out of a crisis.”

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