Second nanny storm hits Blunkett

David Blunkett's support among senior ministers is ebbing dangerously today amid allegations that a second visa was "fast tracked" for his ex-lover's nanny.

Bob Marshall-Andrews today added to Mr Blunkett's problems with a devastating attack describing him as "seriously unbalanced".

In a new blow, it was revealed that nanny Leoncia

Casalme was quickly given a visa to travel to Austria after his then lover, Kimberly Quinn, promised to "make a phone call". Mr

Blunkett's spokesman admitted that Mrs Quinn raised the visa issue with him but insisted that neither he nor his officials did anything to help.

Although less serious than previous allegations being investigated by former civil servant Sir

Alan Budd, the new storm could not come at a worse time for the minister. After three weeks of disclosures, public feuding with Mrs Quinn and the disclosure that Mr Blunkett criticised his colleagues' abilities, some ministers are questioning his future.

One senior Cabinet minister, who has not been known to fall out with Mr Blunkett, admitted to being uncertain about whether the Home Secretary could survive. "I don't know what will happen is the honest answer to that." The minister said Mr Blunkett's comments about John Prescott, Jack Straw and Gordon Brown had damaged his support within Cabinet. "There was a hell of a lot of anger."

Today, Mr Marshall-Andrews said of Mr Blunkett: "I think one is dealing here with someone, who in appearance certainly to many people in the Commons and the country, is quite seriously unbalanced.

Mr Marshall-Andrews said he should resign and claimed the Prime Minister was only protecting him on "the Caligula principle".

"You remember Caligula made his horse a senator not because he thought his horse would be a good senator but because he wanted to demonstrate he could do what he wanted to do," he said.

Supporters of Mr Blunkett believe he will be safe if he can last another week, after which MPs leave for the Christmas break. But the crunch day is Monday when he faces the possible publication of the Sir Alan Budd's report, a debate and vote on ID cards and Home Office Questions in the Commons.

Sir Alan is said to have been told of the new nanny allegations during his inquiry into the original claim that Mr Blunkett helped gain UK residence for her. He took evidence from Mrs Quinn last week.

Miss Casalme's description of the events implied that someone had pulled strings to help her get an Austrian visa after she was initially told she had missed the deadline.

Miss Casalme said she then called Mrs Quinn who told her: "OK Luz, I will make a telephone call." She was sent back to the embassy.

"There was a lady at the door for me. She just said, 'Miss Casalme?' I said 'yes' and went into the waiting area." After handing over her passport, she was given a date a few days later when it would be ready.