YOU reported that former Cabinet minister Hazel Blears was sorry for the manner of her departure (Echo, June 13), but the ironic headline suggested it might have more to do with the fact she faces a humiliating deselection motion in her Salford constituency tomorrow.

I fear that pressure from grass root activists will be thwarted by Downing Street intervention to avoid further show trials involving others such as Geoffrey Hoon, James Purnell and Caroline Flint.

Does anybody believe that tax dodger Ms Blears is sincere in anything she says any more? Consumed with regret she claimed: “I genuinely thought I could go without it sparking off this huge firestorm.”

Is this the same triumphant, grinning individual who days earlier swept out of London wearing a “Rocking the Boat” badge in what was a failed disorganised coup to topple Prime Minister Gordon Brown? Flipping seems to have taken a new meaning.

Ms Blears, if she’s lucky, will spend some time on the naughty step of the backbenches. However, we live in a system which has a propensity for returning tainted individuals back to the political front line. I hope Salford proves me wrong.

Ian Sadler, Darlington.