Hughes quits leaving immigration 'in chaos'

BRITAIN'S immigration minister Beverley Hughes resigned yesterday after admitting she had been tipped off about a suspected east European visa scam more than a year ago.

Tory leader Michael Howard claimed last night that Britain's immigration system was now "in chaos," as Prime Minister Tony Blair and Home Secretary David Blunkett fought to limit the damage done by Ms Hughes' decision to quit.

It followed a week of posturing by Mr Blunkett and other ministers in which they insisted there would be no "scalp" and no resignations as a result of revelations that the government had known for two years about concerns involving Bulgaria and Romania.