PM Tony Blair has disclosed that he had to part company with one of his senior ministers, following a behind-the-scenes row over former Liverpool chief executive, Sir David Henshaw.

Jane Kennedy has admitted she quit her job as minister in charge of the day-to-day running of the National Health Service in England after concerns over Sir David being appointed as chairman of the North West Strategic Health Authority. Sir David got the job after leaving Liverpool, where he fell out with Liberal Democrat leader, Mike Storey who had to resign. At his monthly press conference at Downing Street on Monday, the prime minister admitted the appointment lay behind the resignation of Jane Kennedy, a Liverpool MP, who was one of those who left the Government in the reshuffle last week.