Editing Caroline Flint (section)

=== Cabinet Minister (2008–2009) ===
In January 2008, Flint was promoted to attend the [[Cabinet of the United Kingdom]] as [[Minister of State for Housing and Planning]]. She was also appointed to the [[Privy Council (United Kingdom)|Privy Council]].<ref name="dlprofile" /> During her tenure in the role, Flint suggested unemployed council tenants should "actively seek work" as a condition of their occupancy.<ref>{{cite news|author= Wintour, Patrick|author-link = Patrick Wintour|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2008/feb/05/uk.topstories3 |title=Labour: if you want a council house, find a job|work=[[The Guardian]]|date= 5 February 2009|access-date = 10 October 2021}}</ref> She once inadvertently revealed house price forecasts when her briefing papers were visible to the press.<ref>.{{cite news| url = https://www.theguardian.com/money/2008/may/14/houseprices.property| title = Minister reveals housing fears in briefing gaffe|author= Wintour, Patrick|author-link = Patrick Wintour| work = [[The Guardian]]| date = 14 May 2008| access-date = 27 March 2019}}</ref>

Flint moved roles to become [[Minister of State for Europe]] in the October 2008 government reshuffle. Although remaining a Cabinet attendee, she was now only entitled to attend when her brief was on the agenda.<ref name="guardianprofile" /> Flint notably oversaw the implementation of the [[Lisbon Treaty]] into UK law in her role, and was criticised for admitting to not fully reading the document.<ref>{{cite news
 |url          = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/5084584/Caroline-Flint-Europe-minister-hasnt-read-Lisbon-Treaty.html
 |title        = Caroline Flint, Europe minister, hasn't read Lisbon Treaty
 |author       = Rosa Prince
 |work         = Daily Telegraph
 |date         = 31 March 2009
 |location     = London
 |access-date  = 2 April 2018
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20100712182633/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/5084584/Caroline-Flint-Europe-minister-hasnt-read-Lisbon-Treaty.html
 |archive-date = 12 July 2010
 |url-status   = dead
}}</ref>

She resigned from government after the June 2009 reshuffle, asserting that Brown ran a "two-tier government" and treated her as "female window dressing".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.scotsman.com/politics/39Just-female-window-dressing39-.5340489.jp|title='Just female window dressing' – Full text of Caroline Flint's resignation letter|publisher=The Scotsman|access-date=5 June 2009|date=5 June 2009|location=Edinburgh|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090608151647/http://news.scotsman.com/politics/39Just-female-window-dressing39-.5340489.jp|archive-date=8 June 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> Flint renewed her attack on Brown in a subsequent ''[[The Observer|Observer]]'' article, complaining of "constant pressure" and "negative bullying".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/jun/07/caroline-flint-gordon-brown-resignation|title="Angry Flint in fresh attack on Brown" The Observer|publisher=Guardian|access-date=7 June 2009|first=Gaby|last=Hinsliff|date=7 June 2009|location=London|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130906181809/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/jun/07/caroline-flint-gordon-brown-resignation|archive-date=6 September 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

In an investigation following the [[2009 expenses scandal]], she was required to repay £572 in over-claimed expenses.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8493634.stm | work=BBC News | title=Full list of MPs' expenses repayments | date=4 February 2010 | access-date=16 October 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150410113940/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8493634.stm | archive-date=10 April 2015 | url-status=live }}</ref> Flint voted in-favour of legislation which would have kept MPs' expense details secret.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bremner |first1=Charles |last2=Robertson |first2=David |date=20 May 2007 |title=How your MP voted on the FOI Bill |work=[[The Times]] |location=London |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article1816072.ece |url-status=dead |access-date=9 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090508020947/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article1816072.ece |archive-date=8 May 2009}}</ref>