Comment Central: What does it all really mean?

Hazel Blears has timed her departure, one day before the local and European elections, in a way that causes the maximum damage to the Prime Minister.

Suggestions that she may have avoided paying capital gains tax on another property may have had something to do with it.

But friends of Ms Blears say she wanted to go on her own terms because she knew she was about to be sacked.

Gordon Brown today seems under greater threat than ever before. As often happens with a leader in trouble he performed well in the Commons at question time, with the whips organising a show of support for him.

There will be fury among many Labour MPs over Ms Blears’s decision. They will accuse her of disloyalty to the party, whatever her own feelings for Mr Brown, but the Prime Minister now looks hugely vulnerable.

The immediate reaction among senior Labour MPs was that one more resignation, if it came from a prominent member of the Cabinet, would tip Mr Brown over the edge. It now appears that he has little choice but to bring his reshuffle forward as the only way of restoring some authority to his battered premiership.

Mr Brown is in No 10 for most of the day, preparing for his reshuffle. The people he will be talking to most are – as usual – Ed Balls and Peter Mandelson.

The Prime Minister and Lord Mandelson are keen to stress that ministers such as Ms Blears and Ms Smith, have been shaken by the whole expenses scandal.

Although they will deny any co-ordinated plot, it is known that Ms Blears and Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, whose departure became known yesterday, are very good friends.

Most will think it inconceivable that they did not discuss their respective intentions to leave the Government.

Ms Smith has denied outright any plot and has been very supportive of Mr Brown today.

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