Mowlam on Morris: No 10 to blame

Mo Mowlam believes the Chancellor, Gordon Brown, and the Schools minister, David Miliband should take some of the blame for the downfall of Estelle Morris.

Writing in today's Independent, the former cabinet minister says the appointment of Mr Miliband, who was head of the Downing Street policy unit, intensified pressure on the Secretary of State for Eduction.

Ms Morris resigned on Wednesday, citing problems dealing with the media and the difficulties of running a major spending department. Ms Mowlam says: "It is possible that his presence could well have made Estelle feel squeezed."

She also criticises the Government's culture of targets, warning that the Chancellor's "hands-on" approach to constant reporting and monitoring performance "can cause increased bureaucracy and undermine morale". Ms Morris was said to have lobbied for the appointment of Mr Miliband as School Standards minister. But after his appointment she had to contend with constant speculation about his reputation as a high-flyer tipped as a future prime minister.

Ms Mowlam praises Ms Morris's resignation as the act of "an honest and principled individual" and acknowledges that "the constant pressure of the media can be frustrating and exhausting". But she adds: "There are other problems which I assume hit the Department of Education and Skills. One is the desire of No 10 to get results ... but it can be less than helpful when ... No 10 comes in with requests for more speed in one area, or a change of emphasis in another.

"This difficulty was perhaps made worse for Estelle by having No 10 in her department in the form of David Miliband, a very competent minister, but very close to No 10."