This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/8088862.stm

The article has changed 28 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 9 Version 10
Minister quits in PM loyalty row Minister quits in PM loyalty row
(19 minutes 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 announced she was withdrawing her support for Mr Brown in a letter to her constituents the Northampton North MP.
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."
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."
Reshuffle continuesReshuffle continues
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.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.
Labour MP Frank Field, the leader of last year's 10p tax rebellion, accused Mr Brown's allies of trying to "terrorise" Labour MPs into sticking with him by the threat of an immediate general election.
Even I didn't think a Brown administration would be as inept as this one Frank FieldLabour MP
Mr Field said there was no reason a new leader would have to call an election before next spring.
He said: "Labour cannot win with the present prime minister.
"I was one of the seven who would not support his coronation after Tony Blair was shoehorned out of Number 10. But even I didn't think a Brown administration would be as inept as this one."
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.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.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.""Everyone's walking away and taking their bat home with them, but they are not staking out different ideological or policy-based ground."