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Minister quits in PM loyalty row Minister quits in PM loyalty row
(about 2 hours later)
Environment minister Jane Kennedy is the latest to leave the government amid the row over Gordon Brown's leadership and bad European election results.Environment minister Jane Kennedy is the latest to leave the government amid the row over Gordon Brown's leadership and bad European election results.
She told the BBC: "I have to do what I believe is right and I'm afraid for Gordon I can't support him as leader."She told the BBC: "I have to do what I believe is right and I'm afraid for Gordon I can't support him as leader."
Downing St denied she was asked for an assurance of loyalty to the PM but had refused and said she chose to resign.Downing St denied she was asked for an assurance of loyalty to the PM but had refused and said she chose to resign.
Conservative leader David Cameron said Mr Brown and his critics were locked in "a slow dance of political death".Conservative leader David Cameron said Mr Brown and his critics were locked in "a slow dance of political death".
"He can't seem to reshuffle his cabinet but they can't seem to organise a coup," he told Tory activists in Wales - where the Conservatives pushed Labour into second place in the European elections."He can't seem to reshuffle his cabinet but they can't seem to organise a coup," he told Tory activists in Wales - where the Conservatives pushed Labour into second place in the European elections.
'Not reappointed''Not reappointed'
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.
She is well known in Labour circles for campaigning against the Militant Tendency in Liverpool in the 1980s.She is well known in Labour circles for campaigning against the Militant Tendency in Liverpool in the 1980s.
I've been unhappy for some time about briefings against individuals, leaks, smears against colleagues. Jane KennedyI've been unhappy for some time about briefings against individuals, leaks, smears against colleagues. Jane Kennedy
She told the BBC: "I was asked if I wanted to stay in government and if I did, would I give an assurance that I would be in support of Gordon Brown?She told the BBC: "I was asked if I wanted to stay in government and if I did, would I give an assurance that I would be in support of Gordon Brown?
"I wasn't able to give them that assurance and therefore I have not been reappointed to the government.""I wasn't able to give them that assurance and therefore I have not been reappointed to the government."
Asked why she could not support him, she said: "I've been unhappy for some time about briefings against individuals, leaks, smears against colleagues.Asked why she could not support him, she said: "I've been unhappy for some time about briefings against individuals, leaks, smears against colleagues.
"It's a style, a type of politics that I have fought against all my working life since battling against the Militant Tendency here in Liverpool. It's not a kind of politics that I want to be associated with.""It's a style, a type of politics that I have fought against all my working life since battling against the Militant Tendency here in Liverpool. It's not a kind of politics that I want to be associated with."
Resignation 'regretted'Resignation 'regretted'
A new leader could "refresh the programme" and give people "a new reason for voting Labour", she said.A new leader could "refresh the programme" and give people "a new reason for voting Labour", she said.
Mr Brown's spokesman said the prime minister "did not ask for any pledge of loyalty from her or any other minister".Mr Brown's spokesman said the prime minister "did not ask for any pledge of loyalty from her or any other minister".
The spokesman said: "The prime minister was aware of Jane Kennedy's intention to stand down. He spoke to her this morning.The spokesman said: "The prime minister was aware of Jane Kennedy's intention to stand down. He spoke to her this morning.
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 rowThere 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
"She explained her reasons and he said that he regretted the fact that she had decided to stand down but if that was her decision, then that was a matter for her.""She explained her reasons and he said that he regretted the fact that she had decided to stand down but if that was her decision, then that was a matter for her."
Meanwhile Labour MP Sally Keeble also says she is withdrawing her support for Mr Brown.Meanwhile Labour MP Sally Keeble also says she is withdrawing her support for Mr Brown.
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.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.""However 18 months on, it is painfully clear that time has really run out."
Reshuffle continues
Later she told the BBC there was a "lack of direction" and Mr Brown had not been able to "command authority" within government.Later she told the BBC there was a "lack of direction" and Mr Brown had not been able to "command authority" within government.
She said the cabinet should "talk to Gordon about his position": "It's time for us to move on and I think those closest to him should talk to him about that."She said the cabinet should "talk to Gordon about his position": "It's time for us to move on and I think those closest to him should talk to him about that."
Meanwhile Ivan Lewis and Gillian Merron are set to be promoted as the PM reshuffles his junior ministers. Reshuffle continues
Sources say that sisters Maria and Angela Eagle are to be promoted to ministers of state. Meanwhile Ivan Lewis, Gillian Merron and sisters Maria and Angela Eagle have been promoted as the PM reshuffled his junior ministers ahead of his crucial meeting with MPs at a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party at 1800 BST.
The government says the names of all ministers of state should be announced "in the next few hours", with other ranks announced later on Monday.
BBC political correspondent Sean Curran said Mr Brown would be hoping to have all his junior ministers in place before he meets MPs at a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party at 1800 BST.
Mr Brown completed his cabinet reshuffle on Friday - during a week in which six cabinet ministers left government - including one, James Purnell, who called on the PM to quit.Mr Brown completed his cabinet reshuffle on Friday - during a week in which six cabinet ministers left government - including one, James Purnell, who called on the PM to quit.
But Mr Brown has insisted he will not "walk away" from 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.But Mr Brown has insisted he will not "walk away" from 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.
"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.
"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."
Influential Labour backbencher Jon Cruddas said it was "delusional" for critics of the prime minister to identify leadership instead of policy as the source of the party's problems.
He told BBC Radio 4's The World At One: "There's all these resignations but there's no differences in policy - that's what I don't understand.
"Everyone's walking away and taking their bat home with them, but they are not staking out different ideological or policy-based ground."