THE resignation of Hampshire MP Maria Miller from her role as Culture Minister is a bitter blow not only for the member for Basingstoke but also the Government.

Prime Minister David Cameron had chosen to support his minister when it became plain she would have to apologise to the Commons, and as such the nation, over her miscalculation regarding her expenses.

Having said sorry and paid back all she was required – an amount considerably less than the sum originally put forward by her accusers – then there was no more for her to do, her supporters claimed.

But this was to misjudge the people and underestimate the opposition and press who smelled blood.

Yesterday, after days in which she ran as the number one news headline, Mrs Miller bowed to the inevitable and threw in the towel and her ministerial career.

Justice? Perhaps. Certainly Mrs Miller did little to give the impression she was truly sorry for her mistakes.

But there have been worse mistakes and ministers have survived.