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Under pressure Brown rejigs team Under pressure Brown rejigs team
(10 minutes later)
Gordon Brown is putting the final touches to a cabinet reshuffle as he seeks to see off leadership threats.Gordon Brown is putting the final touches to a cabinet reshuffle as he seeks to see off leadership threats.
Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon is the latest minister to quit his government - as Labour MP Ian Gibson says he is standing down to force a by-election.Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon is the latest minister to quit his government - as Labour MP Ian Gibson says he is standing down to force a by-election.
The Norwich North MP - who was barred from standing at the next election over his expenses claims - said he had been "singled out without knowing why".The Norwich North MP - who was barred from standing at the next election over his expenses claims - said he had been "singled out without knowing why".
Alan Johnson becomes home secretary and Andy Burnham succeeds him at health.Alan Johnson becomes home secretary and Andy Burnham succeeds him at health.
John Hutton earlier quit as defence secretary and James Purnell quit on Thursday as work and pensions secretary - but no ministers have so far backed Mr Purnell's call for Gordon Brown to go.
Bob Ainsworth becomes defence secretary and Peter Hain returns to the cabinet in his old job of Welsh Secretary.
CABINET RESHUFFLE NEW JOBS:Alan Johnson - Home secretaryAndy Burnham - HealthYvette Cooper - Work and pensionsBob Ainsworth - DefenceJohn Denham - CommunitiesLiam Byrne - Chief Secretary to the Treasury Sir Alan Sugar - Enterprise czar (non-Cabinet post)STAYING PUT: Alistair Darling - chancellorDavid Miliband - ForeignJack Straw - Justice Lord Mandelson - BusinessEd Balls - SchoolsEd Miliband - ClimateShaun Woodward - Northern IrelandJim Murphy - ScotlandQUITTING:John HuttonJames PurnellJacqui SmithHazel BlearsGeoff Hoon LIVE: Brown fights for his future Tories and Lib Dems in poll winsCABINET RESHUFFLE NEW JOBS:Alan Johnson - Home secretaryAndy Burnham - HealthYvette Cooper - Work and pensionsBob Ainsworth - DefenceJohn Denham - CommunitiesLiam Byrne - Chief Secretary to the Treasury Sir Alan Sugar - Enterprise czar (non-Cabinet post)STAYING PUT: Alistair Darling - chancellorDavid Miliband - ForeignJack Straw - Justice Lord Mandelson - BusinessEd Balls - SchoolsEd Miliband - ClimateShaun Woodward - Northern IrelandJim Murphy - ScotlandQUITTING:John HuttonJames PurnellJacqui SmithHazel BlearsGeoff Hoon LIVE: Brown fights for his future Tories and Lib Dems in poll wins
John Hutton earlier quit as defence secretary and James Purnell quit on Thursday as work and pensions secretary - but no ministers have so far backed Mr Purnell's call for Mr Brown to "stand aside".
In other reshuffle moves, Bob Ainsworth becomes defence secretary and Peter Hain returns to the cabinet in his old job of Welsh Secretary.
Universities Secretary John Denham succeeds Hazel Blears as communities secretary and Yvette Cooper is expected to replace Mr Purnell as work and pensions secretary, with Liam Byrne replacing her as Chief Secretary to the Treasury.Universities Secretary John Denham succeeds Hazel Blears as communities secretary and Yvette Cooper is expected to replace Mr Purnell as work and pensions secretary, with Liam Byrne replacing her as Chief Secretary to the Treasury.
Margaret Beckett is no longer housing minister, the BBC understands, and has not been given another ministerial job.Margaret Beckett is no longer housing minister, the BBC understands, and has not been given another ministerial job.
Mr Hutton said he thought fellow Blairite minister James Purnell had made "the wrong decision".Mr Hutton said he thought fellow Blairite minister James Purnell had made "the wrong decision".
"I'm not going to be contesting my seat in the next general election and I think it's absolutely right that Gordon, who I'm supporting as our prime minister and party leader, should have a cabinet that's going to take him through the next election and beyond," Mr Hutton told the BBC."I'm not going to be contesting my seat in the next general election and I think it's absolutely right that Gordon, who I'm supporting as our prime minister and party leader, should have a cabinet that's going to take him through the next election and beyond," Mr Hutton told the BBC.
Election losses
Alan Johnson, touted by some backbenchers as a possible leadership challenger, said he backed Mr Brown "to the hilt" to continue as prime minister.Alan Johnson, touted by some backbenchers as a possible leadership challenger, said he backed Mr Brown "to the hilt" to continue as prime minister.
He said he would "never say never" to becoming prime minister at some point, but insisted he could see no circumstances at present where he would mount a bid for the job.He said he would "never say never" to becoming prime minister at some point, but insisted he could see no circumstances at present where he would mount a bid for the job.
He insisted that Mr Brown was "absolutely the best person for this job" and took a swipe at Mr Purnell, saying: "It is a difficult job at the best of times and it is not a job that his own colleagues should be making more difficult through their own actions."He insisted that Mr Brown was "absolutely the best person for this job" and took a swipe at Mr Purnell, saying: "It is a difficult job at the best of times and it is not a job that his own colleagues should be making more difficult through their own actions."
Election losses Many Labour backbenchers who were ready to call for a change of leader will now be asking themselves: 'If they're not willing to act to end this, why should I?' class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/nickrobinson/2009/06/three_extraordi.html">Nick Robinson's blog
BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson said Mr Hutton's decision not to attack Mr Brown - coupled with Mr Johnson's loyalty - had shored up his position as prime minister.BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson said Mr Hutton's decision not to attack Mr Brown - coupled with Mr Johnson's loyalty - had shored up his position as prime minister.
But Gordon Brown was not getting the reshuffle he had planned a week ago, he added.But Gordon Brown was not getting the reshuffle he had planned a week ago, he added.
Alistair Darling had turned down a move to the Home Office and Mr Purnell had been "sounded out" about the job of education secretary, which would have paved the way for Mr Brown's ally Ed Balls to become chancellor, but that was not now going to happen.Alistair Darling had turned down a move to the Home Office and Mr Purnell had been "sounded out" about the job of education secretary, which would have paved the way for Mr Brown's ally Ed Balls to become chancellor, but that was not now going to happen.
Mr Balls is expected to remain as schools secretary, sources suggest. Mr Balls is expected to remain as schools secretary, sources suggest. And Labour is still bracing itself for further bad results after heavy losses declared so far in English local elections.
Many Labour backbenchers who were ready to call for a change of leader will now be asking themselves: 'If they're not willing to act to end this, why should I?' Nick Robinson's blog
And Labour is still bracing itself for further bad results after heavy losses declared so far in English local elections.
According to the BBC's projected share of the national vote at a general election, based on the results in so far, the Conservatives would poll 38%, the Lib Dems 28% and Labour would be third on 23%.
Cabinet ministers have lined up to back Mr Brown and criticise Mr Purnell's surprise call for Mr Brown to quit, with none so far indicating they were ready to follow his lead.
'Run out of road'
But some Labour MPs and senior figures in the party, including former chairman of the Parliamentary Party Lord Soley and senior backbencher Barry Sheerman, have said there has to be a change of leadership.
HAVE YOUR SAYThe ineptness of New Labour over the past 11 years has finally caught up with themJonathan, Slough Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAYThe ineptness of New Labour over the past 11 years has finally caught up with themJonathan, Slough Send us your comments
According to the BBC's projected share of the national vote at a general election, based on the results in so far, the Conservatives would poll 38%, the Lib Dems 28% and Labour would be third on 23%.
Although no cabinet ministers have backed Mr Purnell, some Labour MPs and senior figures in the party, including former chairman of the Parliamentary Party Lord Soley and senior backbencher Barry Sheerman, have said there has to be a change of leadership.
And Dr Gibson - stripped of the right to stand for Labour at the next election because of his expenses claims - said he would stand down now to trigger what is likely to be a potentially difficult by-election for Labour.
He said he felt unfairly singled out over his expenses and said he believed Mr Brown's "days were close to being numbered" as Labour leader.
Conservative leader David Cameron and Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg repeated their calls for a general election.Conservative leader David Cameron and Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg repeated their calls for a general election.
Labour is finished, claims Clegg
Mr Cameron told BBC News the government had "lost the right to govern," adding: "We have a government in complete chaos. We really do deserve better than this."Mr Cameron told BBC News the government had "lost the right to govern," adding: "We have a government in complete chaos. We really do deserve better than this."
Mr Clegg said Mr Brown's future as PM was "irrelevant" because the Labour government was "finished" and had "run out of road".Mr Clegg said Mr Brown's future as PM was "irrelevant" because the Labour government was "finished" and had "run out of road".
Mr Purnell's resignation came as the polls closed on Thursday for the European and English local elections.
Labour is finished, claims Clegg
In a letter published in several newspapers, the work and pensions secretary said he was not seeking the leadership but told Mr Brown: "I now believe your continued leadership makes a Conservative victory more, not less likely. That would be disastrous for our country."
It comes after the resignation of Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, Communities Secretary Hazel Blears and two junior ministers.
The results of the European election, which was also held on Thursday, will start to be published from 2100 BST on Sunday.The results of the European election, which was also held on Thursday, will start to be published from 2100 BST on Sunday.