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Culture, media and sport Secretary of State Maria Miller - whose stuffed portfolio included overseeing the rollout of faster broadband networks to country bumpkins - has finally quit her Cabinet post over an expenses row.

Miller handed in her resignation letter to Prime Minister David Cameron this morning - just hours before he faces PMQs in Parliament at midday today.

She said in her missive to the PM:

I am very grateful to you for your personal support but it has become clear to me that the present situation has become a distraction from the vital work this Government is doing to turn our country around.

But critics, both outside and within the Tory party, have attacked Cameron for failing to act sooner by sacking Miller, who had been ordered to pay 5,800 of the expenses she had claimed.

The amount of money the minister was said to have wrongly siphoned from the taxpayer was understood to be higher. Previously, it had been advised by the independent parliamentary commissioner for standards that Miller pay back 45,000 in expenses.

MPs on the Commons' Committee rejected the higher figure, however, and settled on agreeing to Miller repaying just 5,800, much to the chagrin of many within Westminster.

Since then, calls for the Cabinet minister to resign have overshadowed the government, which comes to the end of its term next year. The PM has also been criticised for his botched handling of the entire affair.

Female Cabinet ministers fell by a quarter with the exit of Miller this morning. Now, Cameron has to make a snap judgment about who will replace the Conservative MP for Basingstoke at the Ministry of Fun.

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Broadband Secretary of SHEEP sensationally quits Cabinet

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

Toft #39;s Dairy, Ohio #39;s Oldest Dairy, Ice Cream cabinet replacement
Toft #39;s Dairy Ice Cream Parlor, replacement of their 3 old 16 hole dipping cabinets with new C. Nelson Mfg., CO. cabinets.

By: George Dunlap

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Toft's Dairy, Ohio's Oldest Dairy, Ice Cream cabinet replacement - Video

Ken Hughes has stepped down from his cabinet post ahead of a likely bid for the Progressive Conservative leadership.

Hughes said Monday he had informed Premier Dave Hancock that he was resigning as Municipal Affairs minister immediately.

The Calgary-West MLA told reporters at the provincial legislature he would make an announcement on his leadership intentions in a matter of days.

There will be more about this later in the week, said Hughes, who was first elected to the legislature in 2012.

I think you can speculate quite widely about why.

Read Ken Hughes' announcement

Following Alison Redfords resignation as premier in the midst of an outcry over her expenses and management style, Hughes announced two weeks ago he was launching an exploratory committee to determine whether he should run for Tory leader.

He said at the time he would gather feedback from the public and make a decision in two weeks.

PC members will select a new leader and Alberta premier in September, with Hancock serving in the interim.

Hughes told the Herald he had resigned his cabinet seat of his own volition.

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Update: Ken Hughes resigns from cabinet in likely bid for Tory leadership

Mayor Naheed Nenshi hopes preening Tory politicians wont slow the governments policy agenda by quitting cabinet posts to pursue their partys leadership.

He told council colleagues Thursday he was enthused after a meeting this week with Premier Dave Hancock, confident that Alison Redfords temporary replacement wants to move fast on a number of long-stewing files.

But he expressed worry that may not happen because several key ministers are chomping at the bit to run for leader instead of staying in cabinet.

He insinuated that a couple of Tory ministers were politicking from the pulpit on Wednesday in eulogies at the memorial service for Jon Lord, the former MLA and alderman who died unexpectedly last week.

Ive seen several of them over the course of the last week, and oh my gosh are they preening their feathers, the mayor said Thursday at councils intergovernmental affairs committee.

Just getting ready. Even yesterday, we saw a bit of that, didnt we, Councillor Demong, on stage?

Coun. Peter Demong, who also spoke at Lords service, replied curtly: No comment.

Two cabinet ministers, Ric McIver and Thomas Lukaszuk, delivered eulogies for the man they both knew in politics and personally. Both are among six cabinet ministers who have mused about running to become PC leader and premier, although it remains a race with no candidates two weeks after Redford announced her resignation.

Lukaszuk was taken aback when told of the mayors remarks about preening feathers at the memorial.

This was the funeral of a very dear friend. And any insinuation that there was anything political about that is simply not reflective of what has happened, the jobs minister said.

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Tories preening feathers for leadership race, Nenshi tells committee

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MORE than 600,000 will be spent creating three new football pitches despite objections from residents.

Cabinet members at Stoke-on-Trent City Council have given the green light to the scheme at Abbey Lane, Abbey Hulton.

These pitches will replace those lost through the construction of a 175-apartment extra care retirement village on Holdcroft Fields in Abbey Hulton.

The council is legally obliged to provide replacement pitches before the development can start.

The extra care village, along with two others in Blurton and Chell, are being delivered as part of a 100 million private finance initiative scheme.

Just over 530,000 from the council's housing capital programme, along with 64,000 from the PFI revenue budget, will be spent on creating the pitches.

Residents living close to the Abbey Lane site objected to the pitches, saying it was an unsuitable location.

But plans for both the extra care facility and the pitches were approved by the council.

Councillor Ruth Rosenau, cabinet member for regeneration, below, said: "The pitches are required to be delivered to unlock land to allow the PFI extra care facilities project to progress.

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The Sentinel commented New football pitches set to be built in Abbey Hulton

The move to file a case over the ousting of Thawil Pliensri from his post at the National Security Council is just a conspiracy to topple caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her Cabinet, Pheu Thai Party legal expert Bhokin Bhalakula said yesterday.

The petition lodged with the Constitutional Court to disqualify Yingluck was politically motivated and part of moves to replace her and her government with an unelected, unconstitutional one, he alleged.

The petition filed by the Group of 40 senators asking the court to consider dismissing the Cabinet and installation of a new premier and new Cabinet according to Articles 172 and 173 was very strange and obviously against the constitution, Bhokin said.

"The Constitutional Court does not have the jurisdiction to take up this case and if it rules in favour of the petition, then it would effectively terminate the Constitution and the verdict itself would be unconstitutional," he said.

"This is [part of] a judicial coup," he said, noting that Yingluck did not have a mandate after she dissolved the House of Representatives in December.

He also pointed out that she was no longer the prime minister, but just taking care of the government pending the formation of a new Cabinet.

Bhokin pointed out that the case was similar to the one filed against former premier Abhisit Vejjajiva in relation to his disqualification as an MP.

The court dismissed the case, saying that Abhisit was no longer an MP as the House had been dissolved.

Pheu Thai's legal expert Chusak Sirinil backed Bhokin, saying the move to install an unelected PM was not possible under the charter.

"If the Constitutional Court rules in favour of the senators, then I don't think this country would have a rule of law anymore. There would be no law, just the court," he said.

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Court petition over Thawil's transfer 'aims to oust govt'

Mayor Naheed Nenshi hopes preening Tory politicians wont slow the governments policy agenda by quitting cabinet posts to pursue their partys leadership.

He told council colleagues Thursday he was enthused after a meeting this week with Premier Dave Hancock, confident that Alison Redfords temporary replacement wants to move fast on a number of long-stewing files.

But he expressed worry that may not happen because several key ministers are chomping at the bit to run for leader instead of staying in cabinet.

He insinuated that a couple of Tory ministers were politicking from the pulpit on Wednesday in eulogies at the memorial service for Jon Lord, the former MLA and alderman who died unexpectedly last week.

Ive seen several of them over the course of the last week, and oh my gosh are they preening their feathers, the mayor said Thursday at councils intergovernmental affairs committee.

Just getting ready. Even yesterday, we saw a bit of that, didnt we, Councillor Demong, on stage?

Coun. Peter Demong, who also spoke at Lords service, replied curtly: No comment.

Two cabinet ministers, Ric McIver and Thomas Lukaszuk, delivered eulogies for the man they both knew in politics and personally. Both are among six cabinet ministers who have mused about running to become PC leader and premier, although it remains a race with no candidates two weeks after Redford announced her resignation.

Lukaszuk was taken aback when told of the mayors remarks about preening feathers at the memorial.

This was the funeral of a very dear friend. And any insinuation that there was anything political about that is simply not reflective of what has happened, the jobs minister said.

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EXCLUSIVE: Tories preening feathers for leadership race, Nenshi tells committee

Mother: No drugs in SIU student's system at death Mother: No drugs in SIU student's system at death

Updated: Wednesday, April 2 2014 1:35 PM EDT2014-04-02 17:35:27 GMT

The toxicology reports are back in connection to the February death of an SIU student, according to the victim's mother.

The toxicology reports are back in connection to the February death of an SIU student, according to the victim's mother.

Updated: Wednesday, April 2 2014 12:17 PM EDT2014-04-02 16:17:56 GMT

Law enforcement is seeking the identity of a reported sexual predator known only as "John Doe 28."

Law enforcement is seeking the identity of a reported sexual predator known only as "John Doe 28."

Updated: Wednesday, April 2 2014 2:36 PM EDT2014-04-02 18:36:16 GMT

A southern Indiana woman and her boyfriend have been charged with committing sexual offenses against children in western Kentucky after prosecutors say they threatened the children with "hexes and curses"

A southern Indiana woman and her boyfriend have been charged with committing sexual offenses against children in western Kentucky after prosecutors say they threatened the children with "hexes and curses"

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KYTC: I-24 work zone complete at the Tennessee River Bridge

Paris (dpa) - French President Francois Hollande carried out a major cabinet reshuffle Monday, a day after his Socialist Party suffered unprecedented losses in municipal elections which voters used to vent frustration with his leadership.

Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault fell on his sword as expected, announcing his resignation and that of his government two hours before a prime-time television address by Hollande.

Hollande was expected to announce popular Interior Minister Manuel Valls as Ayraults replacement at the head of a revamped team that will lead the government into European elections in May.

Valls was the obvious choice to take the helm after 22 months of Socialist rule that has been criticized as ineffectual and amateurish.

Polls show him to be Frances favourite minister, with an approval rating of 46 per cent according to one recent poll, double that of either Hollande or Ayrault.

With his tough talk on immigration and general air of authority, Valls cuts a contrast with the mild-mannered Ayrault, who struggled to rein in unruly ministers.

But it has also made Valls a divisive figure within the Socialist Party.

Hollande had promised to "draw a lesson" from the elections for town councils and mayors.

The speed with which he has rejigged his team reflected the severity of the punishment meted out by voters.

The Socialists and their leftist allies lost control of 155 towns of over 9,000 inhabitants to right-wing parties. The losses included Reims in the north-east, Toulouse in the south-west and the central city of Limoges, a Socialist stronghold for over a century.

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LEAD: France's Hollande reshuffles cabinet after election drubbing By Clare Byrne, dpa