Short stays in Government

International Development Secretary Clare Short said today that she remained "very critical" of the handling of the Iraq crisis, even though she is staying on in Government.

In an extraordinary statement she said that until today she had believed that she should quit, but had now decided that resignation would be "cowardly" as she would be making no contribution to the problems ahead.

"I know I will be heavily criticised for this decision, but we must all do what we think is right in the circumstances we are now in," she said.

Ms Short's decision to remain in the Cabinet offered Mr Blair some respite following the resignations of Leader of the Commons Robin Cook and junior health minister Lord Hunt.

However, her statement will leave a huge question mark hanging over her long-term political future.

"I remain very critical of the way the Iraq crisis has been handled," she said.

"I think the UK could have exerted more leverage and the approach to the Security Council should have been more respectful and less dominated by US timelines and demands for automaticity.

"But we are where we are, and we must decide how we can best take things forward from here.

"I have until today been clear that I should leave the Government. I have now decided that this would be cowardly, because I would be offering no alternative way forward or making any contribution to resolving the problems ahead of us."

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