It is not a surprise that Maria Miller has resigned as Culture Secretary - just that it was so long coming given that the controversy surrounding her expenses claim had become what is known in political circles as "toxic".

Of course, we will never know the real answer to the question posed in the House of Commons today by Darlington MP Jenny Chapman: Did she jump or was she pushed?

Naturally, the official answer is that she decided to do what was best for the Government which was being distracted from its vital work. It was, however, an odd time to quit - unless you happen to take the cynical view that it must be more than mere coincidence that the announcement came hours before David Cameron was due to face the Commons at Question Time and then his own unhappy MPs.

It is an altogether strange affair. She was cleared of fiddling, yet ordered to repay £5,800, condemned for being unhelpful to those investigating her expenses, and blindly backed by the Prime Minister.

Other supporters of Mrs Miller desperately, and quite shamefully, blamed her demise on a witch-hunt by the press in revenge for taking a hard line on media regulation and her support for gay marriage.

It was, of course, nothing to do with either. Indeed, most papers - including The Northern Echo - have taken a positive stance on gay marriage.

This was a problem of Mrs Miller's own making and which was exacerbated by a failure by her party leaders to act decisively.

For Mr Cameron, it is undoubtedly a body blow. He has lost a high-profile fight to keep a loyal ally and he is left with a Cabinet containing just three women.

On balance, it has not been a good day.