She was also fiercely criticised for declaring that property her second home, thereby claiming £116,000 in allowances over five years, including for widescreen TVs, an antique fireplace, washing machines and a kitchen sink.

According to a national newspaper, Ms Hughes rented a second home in London where she claimed £801.60 for re-upholstering furniture, £718 for a chair and £435 for curtains and bedding.

But in a letter to the Prime Minister, Ms Hughes stressed her decision to leave the government and parliament at the next election was purely for family reasons.

Ms Hughes wrote: I know you are already aware of some of the family circumstances that lie behind my decision and I appreciate very much the personal interest you have shown in this.

The Home Secretary declined to speak publicly about her resignation yesterday even while leading debate about the Borders Bill on the floor of the Commons.

William Hague, the Shadow Foreign Secretary, led the taunts that the government was falling apart, describing the Cabinet as a row of political corpses.