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Kennedy 'sacked' over PM loyalty Kennedy 'sacked' over PM loyalty
(10 minutes later)
Environment minister Jane Kennedy has become the latest to leave the government amid the continuing row over Gordon Brown's leadership.Environment minister Jane Kennedy has become the latest to leave the government amid the continuing row over Gordon Brown's leadership.
Her spokesman said she had been sacked because she would not give a pledge of support to Gordon Brown.Her spokesman said she had been sacked because she would not give a pledge of support to Gordon Brown.
Meanwhile Mr Brown is continuing a reshuffle of junior ministers as Labour reels from a record low vote share of just 15.3% in the European elections. But Downing St said she had not been asked for one and had called Mr Brown early on to say she wanted to quit.
Labour MP Sally Keeble also says she is withdrawing her support for Mr Brown. The PM is reshuffling junior ministers as Labour reels from a record low 15.3% vote share in the European elections.
In a letter to her constituents the Northampton North MP said: "When Gordon said in the autumn of 2007 he wanted more time to put forward his vision, that seemed fair.
'Fighting chance'
"However 18 months on, it is painfully clear that time has really run out."
Ms Kennedy, Liverpool Wavertree MP, has quit the government before - as health minister in 2006 over NHS reforms.Ms Kennedy, Liverpool Wavertree MP, has quit the government before - as health minister in 2006 over NHS reforms.
'Assurance of support'
She is well known in Labour circles for campaigning against the Militant Tendency in Liverpool in the 1980s and is said to have wanted to hear what Mr Brown said at a meeting of Labour's Parliamentary Party on Monday night before committing to any statement of support for the PM.
It is understood she had been unhappy with Mr Brown's leadership for a while and had canvassed views among her Labour colleagues in Liverpool.
There has been turbulence, undoubtedly, but our reaction needs to be and will be not to turn in on ourselves, not to be disunited Harriet HarmanLabour deputy leader Labour slumps to historic defeat UKIP beats Labour to second place Brown defiant amid leadership row
On Monday she said: "I wasn't able to give the prime minister the assurance of support that he wanted. No one I have spoken to over the last week has told me to support him."On Monday she said: "I wasn't able to give the prime minister the assurance of support that he wanted. No one I have spoken to over the last week has told me to support him."
But Downing Street denied any suggestion the prime minister was ringing junior ministers asking for pledges of loyalty.
A spokesman said Mr Brown did not ask Jane Kennedy to make a public statement of support for him and is not doing any such thing with any other ministers.
Meanwhile Labour MP Sally Keeble also says she is withdrawing her support for Mr Brown.
Time 'run out'
In a letter to her constituents the Northampton North MP said: "When Gordon said in the autumn of 2007 he wanted more time to put forward his vision, that seemed fair.
"However 18 months on, it is painfully clear that time has really run out."
Sources say that sisters Maria and Angela Eagle are to be promoted to ministers of state.Sources say that sisters Maria and Angela Eagle are to be promoted to ministers of state.
BBC political correspondent Sean Curran said Mr Brown would be hoping to have all his junior ministers in place before he meets Labour MPs at a meeting of the party's parliamentary party later.BBC political correspondent Sean Curran said Mr Brown would be hoping to have all his junior ministers in place before he meets Labour MPs at a meeting of the party's parliamentary party later.
Mr Brown completed his cabinet reshuffle on Friday - he had been expected to carry it out on Monday but the government was rocked last week by the resignations of Jacqui Smith, Hazel Blears and James Purnell.Mr Brown completed his cabinet reshuffle on Friday - he had been expected to carry it out on Monday but the government was rocked last week by the resignations of Jacqui Smith, Hazel Blears and James Purnell.
There has been turbulence, undoubtedly, but our reaction needs to be and will be not to turn in on ourselves, not to be disunited Harriet HarmanLabour deputy leader Labour slumps to historic defeat UKIP beats Labour to second place Brown defiant amid leadership row
In his resignation letter Mr Purnell told the prime minister "to stand aside to give our party a fighting chance of winning".
During Friday's reshuffle cabinet ministers Geoff Hoon, John Hutton and Paul Murphy also stepped down, although they insisted they backed Mr Brown.During Friday's reshuffle cabinet ministers Geoff Hoon, John Hutton and Paul Murphy also stepped down, although they insisted they backed Mr Brown.
However quitting as Europe minister, Caroline Flint said Mr Brown had been treated women ministers as "female window dressing".However quitting as Europe minister, Caroline Flint said Mr Brown had been treated women ministers as "female window dressing".
Mr Brown has insisted he will not "walk away" from the job and the man many people have suggested could replace him, the health secretary Alan Johnson, has offered him his full support saying Mr Brown is the "best man for the job".Mr Brown has insisted he will not "walk away" from the job and the man many people have suggested could replace him, the health secretary Alan Johnson, has offered him his full support saying Mr Brown is the "best man for the job".
His deputy, Harriet Harman told the BBC the government would not "throw in the towel" despite the latest setback in the form of nightmare European election results.His deputy, Harriet Harman told the BBC the government would not "throw in the towel" despite the latest setback in the form of nightmare European election results.
"What we won't be doing is wringing our hands, being disunited, turning in on ourselves," she said."What we won't be doing is wringing our hands, being disunited, turning in on ourselves," she said.
"There has been turbulence, undoubtedly, but our reaction needs to be and will be not to turn in on ourselves, not to be disunited, but to think about what we have got to do, what our obligation is."There has been turbulence, undoubtedly, but our reaction needs to be and will be not to turn in on ourselves, not to be disunited, but to think about what we have got to do, what our obligation is.
"Our obligation is to sort out the economy and protect people and sort out the expenses problem and we will do both these things.""Our obligation is to sort out the economy and protect people and sort out the expenses problem and we will do both these things."
"I think there is nobody better placed in terms of taking the economy forward than Gordon Brown.""I think there is nobody better placed in terms of taking the economy forward than Gordon Brown."