Former cabinet minister Clare Short has resigned the Labour whip after a long-running disagreement with Tony Blair over foreign policy.

The ex-international development secretary recently called for a campaign for a hung parliament, saying she was "profoundly ashamed" of the government.

Short wrote to Labour chief whip Jacqui Smith informing her she would now sit as an independent backbencher.

Despite backing the Iraq war, Short left the cabinet because of her unhappiness at the reconstruction effort.

Her credibility was damaged because she did not leave when Robin Cook resigned in protest at the invasion. 

Since leaving the cabinet, Short has repeatedly criticised the prime minister in particular and called on him to resign.