This Time, It's Goodbye; the Resignation of David Blunkett Is Not Only a Personal Misfortune for Him: It Is a Memento Mori for Tony Blair

Byline: ANNE MCELVOY

THIS time, it really is goodbye. David Blunkett walked into Downing Street as an embattled minister hoping, as his aides were repeating desperately, to "draw a line" under the share dealings controversy.

He left with his career in shreds.

The Work and Pensions Secretary has staggered from one DNA-related disaster to the next and now pays the ultimate price, his second resignation from Cabinet in a year.

It is impossible for Mr Blunkett to return in a senior role while Mr Blair remains in office, and his political career may well be over for good. One insider who witnessed Mr Blunkett's arrival in Downing Street noted that despite Mr Blair's personal sympathy for his friend, the mood was "extremely formal" - this time.

There was little tea and sympathy.

The longer-term casualty of all this, however, may be the authority of Tony Blair himself. He profits neither from appearing decisive enough to request Mr …

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Publication information: Article title: This Time, It's Goodbye; the Resignation of David Blunkett Is Not Only a Personal Misfortune for Him: It Is a Memento Mori for Tony Blair. Contributors: Not available. Newspaper title: The Evening Standard (London, England). Publication date: November 2, 2005. Page number: 13. © Not available. COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group.

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