Hodge: I thought of quitting in smear row

Margaret Hodge admitted she considered resigning as Children's Minister after falsely branding a sex abuse victim an "extremely disturbed person".

Mrs Hodge said she had made a "big mistake" in her remarks about Demetrius Panton, who was abused in a home run by Islington council, of which she was leader.

But she had decided to stay in her job because "everyone in the children's world" had "expressed" confidence" in her.

An Evening Standard survey of eight children's charities and organisations at the height of the furore last month found only one that offered her its full backing.

Mrs Hodge defended her position on BBC1's Question Time last night. She had to apologise in court for her comments about Mr Panton and paid £10,000 to charity.