Minister Blears only in her job ‘at the moment’

Gordon Brown's relations with Cabinet minister Hazel Blears fell to a new low today after he appeared to mark her for the sack.

Asked directly if Ms Blears would stay in the next reshuffle, the Prime Minister said she was in her job as Communities Secretary "at the moment". His remark on GMTV came after he described expenses claims as "totally unacceptable". Ms Blears has been under fire since it was revealed she avoided a £13,000 capital gains tax bill. In a further sign Mr Brown is getting tough, MP Margaret Moran, who claimed £22,500 to treat dry rot, was facing de-selection.