The full text of the exchange of letters between Lord Irvine and Tony Blair.

Dear Tony,

As we have discussed, having served in your Cabinet for six years, I would now like to leave the government.

It has been a real privilege to serve as lord chancellor during a period when the government has been implementing such a radical programme of constitutional change. I want to place on record my thanks to you for the opportunity I have had to play my part in this.

I believe the office of lord chancellor has been of great historic value in our constitutional arrangements, especially in upholding the independence of the judiciary.

I hope you will take the opportunity in the legislation which will be necessary to abolish the office and to create a new Supreme Court to reaffirm that guarantee of judicial independence; and I wish you well in the implementation of the further programme of reforms that you are setting out today.

The government you lead has achieved a great deal for our people through the changes we have made to the economy; our society and our constitution.

I am proud of the contribution I have been able to make to that, and I wish you every success as you continue to take this programme forward.

Yours ever,

Derry

Dear Derry,

Thank you for your letter confirming that you want to leave the government. You have served as lord chancellor for six years, and I want to pay tribute to the huge contribution you have made to the government, in particular your personal impact upon our devolution and constitutional reform programmes.

This is a government which can be proud of the scale and the success of our constitutional reforms, in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, London and elsewhere, as well as the wide-ranging reforms to the House of Lords and the passage of the Human Rights Act. Your role in that has been enormous.

I also want to thank you for the work you have done in helping to draw up the further major reforms that we are setting out today to modernise the constitution, the system of justice, and the delivery of public services.

The changes to the courts, judicial appointments, and the workings of the Lords will be far-reaching and significant, and your support and insight has been invaluable.

In addition to your contribution as a minister you have been a trusted friend to me over many years, first as colleagues at the Bar, then in Opposition, where you were a great support, and in government. I have always valued your advice and counsel, and I know we will remain firm friends.

Yours ever,

Tony