Ms Kelly said she was acting in her son's interests

The newspaper had breached the boy's right to privacy by naming her as the minister who took a child out of the state system, she added.

The Communities Secretary said her "sole concern" was for her son.

But Mirror editor Richard Wallace said he felt it had been "entirely right and proper" to name Ms Kelly.

'Careful consideration'

Ms Kelly was criticised for removing her son, who has special educational needs, from a state school..

In a statement, the former education secretary said: "After careful consideration I have decided to refer The Daily Mirror to the Press Complaints Commission, following their coverage of my son's schooling on 8th January.

"My sole concern throughout has been the welfare of my young son. I believe his right to privacy has been breached.

"I have no intention of commenting further or drawing any further attention to this issue for the same reason."

However, Mr Wallace said: "We are aware of Ruth Kelly's complaint to the PCC and we look forward to vigorously defending our position.

"We are confident that it was entirely right and proper that we identify Ms Kelly so that the public could decide whether her actions were appropriate - given that they were clearly at odds with government policy."

The Mirror was the first paper to name Mrs Kelly as the minister who had enrolled a child at a �15,000-a-year private school.

The story was first reported, without names, in the Mail on Sunday.

Former Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy told BBC One's Question Time: "I think that Ruth Kelly should have, if at all possible, stayed in the state sector."