Maria Miller: I take full responsibility for my resignation

Parliament's Independent Standards Commissioner last week found that Mrs Miller had broken Commons rules and should repay 45,000 in expenses she claimed on a London house she later sold for a 1.2 million profit.

A committee of MPs reduced the payment to 5,800 and accepted a 32-second apology from the minister. David Cameron gave his minister his "warm support" despite complaints from the public.

Mrs Miller told Sky News: This has been a really difficult 16 months because I was cleared about the central allegation made about me by a Labour member of Parliament, I hope that I could stay, but its become clear to me over the last few days that this has become an enormous distraction and its not right that distracting from the incredible achievements of this Government.

Mrs Miller said that she had apologised unreservedly to the House of Commons and was clear to everybody that she took responsibility for the findings of the Standards Committee.

She added: I want to make sure that the situation is clear to everybody and make sure that I can move on."

Mrs Miller's comments could be seen by Westminster insiders as an attempt by Downing Street to deflect criticism of the Prime Ministers weakness over the issue.

Former Culture Secretary Maria Miller drives away from Parliament on April 9 (GETTY IMAGES)

It has been reported that there was a personal visit to Maria Miller last night in which someone close to Mr Cameron told her that it was time to go.

A source close to the Prime Minister quoted by Channel Four said that Conservative leadership had decided that the damage the scandal was doing to the party had gone fair enough.

The appearance of Maria Millers Private Secretary Mary Mccleod on Sky News was the final straw, it was reported.

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Maria Miller: I take full responsibility for my resignation