Hazel Blears resigns

24 March 1997: Hazel Blears when she was announced as prospective parliamentary candidate for Salford Photograph: MEN

30 August 2001: Health minister Hazel Blears with Demi Brettell at the national launch of the 'Brushing for Life' campaign, aimed at protecting children's teeth Photograph: Phil Noble/PA

21 October 2004: Home Office minister Hazel Blears with a collection of real and replica guns held by the Greater Manchester Police Photograph: MEN

17 January 2005: Home Office minister Hazel Blears launching a new dedicated actionline for the public to report antisocial behaviour at the Dolphin centre, Newcastle Photograph: Owen Humphreys/PA

2 August 2005: Home Office minister Hazel Blears chatting with Sabena Surjan at Oldham Civic Centre in the first in a nationwide series of meetings with representatives of the Muslim community arranged in the wake of the London bombings Photograph: Christopher Thomond

10 December 2005: Hazel Blears with her Benelli motorbike at her constituency home in Salford Photograph: Bob Collier/Rex Features

14 May 2007: Hazel Blears announces her intention to stand for the deputy leader position of the Labour party outside the House of Commons Photograph: David Levene

14 May 2007: Hazel Blears with her supporters for the Labour deputy leader position including John Reid, Tessa Jowell and Ruth Kelly Photograph: David Levene

23 September 2007: Hazel Blears, communities secretary, poses with lifeguards on the beach during the Labour party conference in Bournemouth Photograph: Martin Argles

2 September 2008: Gordon Brown and Hazel Blears laughing together in Ealing, west London, where they discussed the shared ownership housing scheme Photograph: Anthony Devlin/PA

21 September 2008: Hazel Blears at her home in her Salford constituency Photograph: Christopher Thomond

23 September 2008: Hazel Blears acknowledges applause after her speech at the Labour party conference in Manchester Photograph: Christopher Thomond

2 June 2009: Hazel Blears arrives at Downing Street for the weekly cabinet meeting Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images