Clare Short has left the UK Department for International Development but she didn't go quietly. Oh no, she let loose broadside against the control freaks in No.10 and how Tony Blair is increasingly concentrating on his place in history. Her main reason for leaving is that the UK and USA are not abiding by their pre-war agreement to involve the UN in the reconstruction of Iraq. In fact, the UN appears to be completely sidelined in this and don't they know it. Selected quotes from Ms Short included: 'Diktats in favour of bad policy initiatives come down from on high','Those who are wielding power are not accountable and are not scrutinised' - a reference to the various helpers and spin-doctors in No 10 and a swipe against 'control freak problems' in No 10.

To be honest, Clare Short should have left before the Iraq war - she said so clearly and condemned Tony Blair for his 'reckless conduct' and how he was the poodle to Bush. As the war started she wavered and was persuaded back onside and therefore damaged her standing as a politician. Sure one can argue she was being pragmatic and practical: the war was going to start and she could do more good in place of power rather than outside of it. If so, she shouldn't have drawn a line in the sand and seen Bush/Blair cross it.

Other voices are not exactly weeping: many agree with her parting remarks but Clare Short was not liked in many circles and was quite happy to trample over NGOs around the world - prefering to see development carried out and influenced by Governments rather than non-governmental organisations. She also survived the military airborne traffic control system for Tanzania fiasco as well as numerous other incidents involving BAE Hawk fighter jets. So much for development though.

George Monbiot from the UK's Guardian (http://www.guardian.co.uk) has an interesting article on Clare and how she had outlived her usefulness as Tony Blair's rebel.

Now we have the first Black Cabinet minister in the form of Valerie Amos replacing Clare Short. She was Tony Blair's African ambassador who was sent to numerous Africa countries just prior to the Iraq war in order to get as much support for the war. Is she going to be Tony Blair's yes woman? She may be the first black female cabinet minister - but she is first and foremost, a politician. We'll see.