BASINGSTOKE MP Maria Miller has resigned from her position as Culture Secretary at the heart of Government, this morning, following the public row over her public expenses.

In a letter of resignation to Prime Minister David Cameron, the MP said the controversy “has become a distraction from the vital work this government is doing”.

David Cameron has said he was “sorry” to receive the letter, but has accepted her decision to leave her position in the Cabinet.

The news followed mounting pressure for the Culture Secretary to resign after she was criticised in an investigation into her second home expenses, by Parliamentary Commissioner, Kathryn Hudson.

Although Mrs Miller was cleared of deliberately submitting expense claims that she was not entitled to for her Wimbledon second home, she was ordered to repay £5,800 to cover the costs of over-claiming mortgage expenses on the second home after she failed to cut her claims as interest rates fell.

However, Parliamentary Commissioner, Kathryn Hudson recommended that the Basingstoke MP repay £45,800.

But the 10 MPs and three lay people on the committee on standards told Mrs Miller that she should pay back just £5,800 overclaimed in mortgage interest in 2009.