British defence secretary quits as Brown reshapes cabinet

Jun 5, 2009, 12:55 GMT

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown leaves his residence at 10 Downing Street on his way to Prime Minister\'s Questions at the House of Commons, London, England, 03 June 2009. EPA/DANIEL DEME

London - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown Friday lost his fourth cabinet minister in one week even as he was engaged in an emergency reshuffle aimed at ensuring his own political survival.

Defence Secretary John Hutton announced his resignation Friday, continuing a spate of departures by ministers seen as backers of former prime minister Tony Blair in what some commentators have described as a 'Blairite coup' against beleaguered Brown.

Brown was dealt a heavy blow late Thursday with the shock resignation of James Purnell, the Works and Pensions Secretary, who openly called on him to step down in the interest of the Labour Party and its chances to win the next general election.

Earlier this week, Communities Secretary Hazel Blears and Home Secretary Jacqui Smith resigned.

Smith was Friday replaced as Home Secretary by Alan Johnson, the former Health Secretary, who is widely seen as a strong contender for the Labour leadership should Brown have to go.

It was also confirmed Friday that Alistair Darling, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, will stay in their posts after resisting attempts to move them to other portfolios.

While Hutton, a known 'Blairite,' insisted Friday that he was quitting the cabinet for family reasons, his departure is still seen as a blow to Brown.

Hutton will be replaced by Shaun Woodward, the former Northern Ireland Secretary, it was announced.

The current crisis was initially sparked by media exposure of excessive expenses claims by parliamentarians of all political parties last month.

But it quickly developed into a crisis centering on Brown, who is seen by many in his own Labour Party as a weak and unpopular leader unable to lead them to victory in the next general election.

Meanwhile, initial results from local council elections in England Friday showed heavy losses for Brown's ruling Labour Party, while the Conservatives and the Liberals made gains.

It is expected to be a similar picture in the elections for the European Parliament, the results of which are due to be announced Sunday.

The leader of the opposition Conservative Party, David Cameron, Friday called for an immediate general election. 'The Labour government is collapsing before our eyes,' he said.

His call was echoed by the Liberal Democrat leader, Nick Clegg. 'Labour is finished,' said Clegg.

Labour has been in power in Britain since 1997, when it won a landslide victory under Blair, from whom Brown took over two years ago.