Last month she criticised William Hague's remarks on law and order following Damilola Taylor's murder in south London, saying that: "He is a desperate man who has made a terrible mistake, calling his judgment into question once again."

She was a junior education minister for three years in James Callaghan's government and gained experience with the opposition health, treasury and trade portfolios.

In Tony Blair's first cabinet she was given the trade and industry brief but after just a year became leader of the House of Commons.

She briefly led the Labour Party after the death of John Smith in 1994, to whom she had been deputy, and was the first woman to do so.

Her performance was widely praised, but she lost out to Mr Blair in the leadership contest that followed.

She famously criticised Neil Kinnock for not supporting Tony Benn's bid for the deputy leadership.

She studied at Manchester College of Science and Technology and worked as a metallurgist and laboratory manager before entering politics.

She was MP for Lincoln from 1974-79 and since 1983 has represented Derby South.