 Ms Smith says her constituents are her priority |
Outgoing home secretary Jacqui Smith says she is standing down to focus on her constituents and to repay the support her family has given her. She said she has been able to do the job because of her family's support and they have come under a lot of pressure in the row over her expenses. The MP for Redditch, Worcestershire, will step down in the upcoming cabinet reshuffle, sources have said. She was criticised for naming her sister's London house as her main home. Speaking to BBC News, Ms Smith said her family had played an important role in her years as a minister. "I spoke to the prime minister about the fact that I've been a minister for nearly 10 years now," she said. "During that time I've been able to do the job, I hope, to the best of my abilities because of the support that has been provided to me by my family." Ms Smith, the first female home secretary, was criticised over her husband's claim for an adult movie. She added that stepping down was the right thing to do for her family. "I felt that it was the right thing to do for me, for them and for my constituency, to focus now back on to my constituents in Redditch which is the reason why I am in this job in the first place." It is understood Ms Smith, 46, intends to defend her seat at the next election. Scott Preston, from the Jacqui Must Go Now! campaign, said people in Redditch did not want her any more.
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I felt that it was the right thing to do for me, for them and for my constituency to focus now back on to my constituents in Redditch which is the reason why I am in this job in the first place.
BBC News
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