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| PM's new cabinet looking forward | PM's new cabinet looking forward |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Gordon Brown is to hold a meeting with his reshuffled cabinet for the first time, following a difficult week for the Labour Party. | Gordon Brown is to hold a meeting with his reshuffled cabinet for the first time, following a difficult week for the Labour Party. |
| Labour suffered a dire set of European election results which saw them gain just 15% of votes and finish behind the UK Independence Party. | Labour suffered a dire set of European election results which saw them gain just 15% of votes and finish behind the UK Independence Party. |
| But at a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) on Monday Mr Brown was applauded by most MPs. | But at a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) on Monday Mr Brown was applauded by most MPs. |
| Meanwhile, ex-minister Stephen Byers joined those saying the PM should quit. | |
| Environment minister Jane Kennedy has become the latest minister to resign her post, saying she could not support Mr Brown as leader. | Environment minister Jane Kennedy has become the latest minister to resign her post, saying she could not support Mr Brown as leader. |
| The meeting of the PLP had been billed as crucial for Mr Brown's efforts to remain prime minister. | The meeting of the PLP had been billed as crucial for Mr Brown's efforts to remain prime minister. |
| During it, Charles Clarke, a former home secretary, told the prime minister he should quit, as did MPs Fiona McTaggart, Tom Harris and Siobhan McDonagh, the BBC understands. | During it, Charles Clarke, a former home secretary, told the prime minister he should quit, as did MPs Fiona McTaggart, Tom Harris and Siobhan McDonagh, the BBC understands. |
| He can't seem to reshuffle his cabinet but they can't seem to organise a coup Conservative leader David Cameron on Gordon Brown Byers joins calls for PM to quit UKIP beats Labour to second place | He can't seem to reshuffle his cabinet but they can't seem to organise a coup Conservative leader David Cameron on Gordon Brown Byers joins calls for PM to quit UKIP beats Labour to second place |
| But BBC political correspondent James Landale said MPs, crammed into the committee room, cheered and banged desks in support of the prime minister. | But BBC political correspondent James Landale said MPs, crammed into the committee room, cheered and banged desks in support of the prime minister. |
| Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said there had been "no support" for the rebels who spoke and the meeting had been "overwhelmingly" supportive of the prime minister. | Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said there had been "no support" for the rebels who spoke and the meeting had been "overwhelmingly" supportive of the prime minister. |
| According to his spokesman, Mr Brown told the room he had "strengths and weaknesses" and that there were "some things I do well and some things not so well". | According to his spokesman, Mr Brown told the room he had "strengths and weaknesses" and that there were "some things I do well and some things not so well". |
| Another ex-home secretary, David Blunkett, also told the meeting the rebels should "put up or shut up", the BBC has been told. | Another ex-home secretary, David Blunkett, also told the meeting the rebels should "put up or shut up", the BBC has been told. |
| 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. |
| A ComRes survey for the Independent suggests Alan Johnson would cut Mr Cameron's advantage if the new home secretary were to become Labour leader. | A ComRes survey for the Independent suggests Alan Johnson would cut Mr Cameron's advantage if the new home secretary were to become Labour leader. |
| It said the Tories would lead by 38% to 22% with Mr Brown at Downing Street, but with Mr Johnson at the helm Labour's support would rise to 26% and backing for David Cameron would fall to 36% - enough to deny the Conservatives an overall majority. | It said the Tories would lead by 38% to 22% with Mr Brown at Downing Street, but with Mr Johnson at the helm Labour's support would rise to 26% and backing for David Cameron would fall to 36% - enough to deny the Conservatives an overall majority. |
| Ever since James Purnell's dramatic resignation from the cabinet there has been what one of those working to unseat the prime minister describes as "a battle of the bodies". Nick RobinsonBBC Political Editor Read Nick Robinson's blog | Ever since James Purnell's dramatic resignation from the cabinet there has been what one of those working to unseat the prime minister describes as "a battle of the bodies". Nick RobinsonBBC Political Editor Read Nick Robinson's blog |
| Mr Brown has been reshuffling his junior ministers, following last week's cabinet reshuffle and departure of six cabinet ministers and several other ministers. | Mr Brown has been reshuffling his junior ministers, following last week's cabinet reshuffle and departure of six cabinet ministers and several other ministers. |
| Part of that process has seen the departure of Ms Kennedy, Liverpool Wavertree MP, who has quit the government before - as health minister in 2006 over NHS reforms. | Part of that process has seen the departure of Ms Kennedy, Liverpool Wavertree MP, who has quit the government before - as health minister in 2006 over NHS reforms. |
| 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." |
| 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". |
| Meanwhile, Mr Byers told the meeting of the Progress thinktank that "now is the time for Gordon Brown to stand down" if Labour were to avoid a "humiliating defeat". | Meanwhile, Mr Byers told the meeting of the Progress thinktank that "now is the time for Gordon Brown to stand down" if Labour were to avoid a "humiliating defeat". |
| Labour MP Sally Keeble also announced she was withdrawing her support for Mr Brown in a letter to her constituents in Northampton North. | Labour MP Sally Keeble also announced she was withdrawing her support for Mr Brown in a letter to her constituents in Northampton North. |
| Later she told the BBC Mr Brown had not been able to "command authority" within government. | Later she told the BBC Mr Brown had not been able to "command authority" within government. |
| 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. | 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. |