'You use women as window dressing' LABOUR IN MELTDOWN.

Byline: BEN BRADLEY

Minister's furious parting shot a further blow to Brown

Caroline Flint, who has quit as Minster for Europe

CAROLINE Flint delivered a devastating attack on Gordon Brown last night, accusing him of using women ministers as "female window dressing".

In a furious letter resigning as Europe Minister, she accused the Prime Minister of operating a "two-tier Government".

She said Mr Brown had "strained every sinew" of her loyalty to the Government.

Her comments came less than 24 hours after she took to the airwaves to declare her loyalty to Mr Brown amid speculation that she was preparing to resign.

"I am extremely disappointed at your failure to have an inclusive Government. You have a two-tier Government - your inner circle and then the remainder of Cabinet," she said.

"I have the greatest respect for the women who have served as full members of Cabinet and for those who attend as and when required. However, few are allowed into your inner circle.

"Several of the women attending Cabinet - myself included - have been treated by you as little more than female window dressing. I am not willing to attend Cabinet in a peripheral capacity any longer."

Her shock resignation forced Mr Brown to hurriedly announce the appointment of Holyhead-born Glenys Kinnock, the wife of the former leader Neil Kinnock who is standing down as an MEP, as her replacement.

During a dramatic day in Downing Street yesterday, Mr Brown also handed his potential leadership rival Alan John-sothe post of Home Secretary as part of his make-or-break reshuffle.

Among the main changes, out went Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon and Defence Secretary John Hutton, who both resigned from the Cabinet.

Their exits followed on from the resignations of Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell, Communities Secretary Hazel Blears and Home Secretary Jacqui Smith in recent days. Paul Murphy also returns to the backbenches after a brief stint as Welsh Secretary.

Peter Hain replaces him in the Cabinet as Welsh Secretary and Armed Forces Minister Bob Ainsworth is promoted to Defence Secretary.

Cabinet Office Minister Liam Byrne will become Chief Secretary to the Treasury and Health Minister Ben Bradshaw is the new Culture Secretary. Lord Adonis becomes Transport Secretary.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband, Chancellor Alistair Darling and Business Secretary Lord Mandelson all remain in their roles.

. The reshuffle came against a background of disastrous local election results for Labour: on going to press, the party had lost 249 councillors and control of three councils: the Conservatives had gained overall control of seven councils.

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