">Forum Views ()
">Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
British PM tries to save govt with cabinet reshuffle
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
Yahoo! Search
Search:
Sign InNew User? Sign Up
News Home -
Help
Navigation
Primary Navigation
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Secondary Navigation
Africa
Europe
Latin America
Middle East
North America
Search
Search:
British PM tries to save govt with cabinet reshuffle
AFP - Saturday, June 6
LONDON (AFP) - - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is reshuffling his cabinet on Friday as he battles to stay in his job after a minister quit and called on the beleaguered premier to resign.
ADVERTISEMENT
In a shock move as polls closed late Thursday, James Purnell stepped down as Work And Pensions Secretary, prompting Brown to reshuffle his government in a bid to relaunch his premiership.
Purnell, tipped as a rising star and possible future leader, is the third cabinet minister to quit this week -- but the first to call openly for Brown to go.
"I now believe that your continued leadership makes a Conservative victory more, not less, likely. That would be disastrous for our country," Purnell wrote in his resignation letter to Brown.
"I am therefore calling on you to stand aside to give our party a fighting chance of winning. As such I am resigning from government."
Brown will reshuffle his cabinet Friday, Downing Street said, following the wave of resignations which also included Home Secretary Jacqui Smith and Communities Secretary Hazel Blears and two junior ministers.
A reshuffle would be seen as an attempt to relaunch his premiership, particularly in the wake of local election results which at first sight look bad for Labour.
With only three of 34 councils declared, the ruling party has lost 23 seats, compared to the main opposition Conservatives who have gained 18.
The European election results will not be published until Sunday, in line with the rest of the continent.
Opinion polls suggested Labour could suffer some of its worst ever results and finish behind the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats, and even fringe euro-sceptics the United Kingdom Independence Party.
Nevertheless, there was little sign of high-level support for Purnell early Friday as a series of ministers toured television and radio studios defending Brown.
Health Secretary Alan Johnson, seen by many commentators as the most likely replacement for Brown, told reporters: "I continue to believe that Gordon Brown is the best man for the job.
"It is vital now, more than ever, that we unite for the sake of the party and the government."
But there could be trouble ahead if he demotes heavyweights such as finance minister Alistair Darling or Foreign Secretary David Miliband, seen as a leadership contender last year.
The BBC reported that Darling would keep his job, despite Brown's reported wish to replace him with his loyal lieutenant, Schools Secretary Ed Balls.
Brown was "disappointed" by Purnell's departure and was now concentrating on "restructuring the government", a spokesman for his Downing Street office said.
Conservative leader David Cameron, tipped by polls to be prime minister within a year, said Purnell's resignation showed the government was "falling apart in front of our eyes" and renewed his call for a snap general election.
A general election must be held by mid-2010 and opinion polls put the Conservatives well ahead.
Purnell said in his resignation letter he was not standing for the leadership himself.
In power since 1997, Labour has been badly hit by the scandal over lavish expense claims from the public purse by lawmakers which has dominated the headlines here for the last few weeks.
Public anger is particularly high as Britain struggles with the worst recession since World War II.
British media have reported that a group of rebel MPs are circulating a letter calling on Brown to step down which they will hand to him Monday after all the election results are in.
Labour Party rules state that 72 MPs must sign a motion of no-confidence to trigger a leadership election. Labour currently has 350 MPs, a majority of 63.
Email Story
IM Story
Printable View
Blog This
Sign in to recommend this article »
0 users recommend
Related Articles: World
No decision on flu pandemic expected Friday: WHOAFP - Saturday, June 6
Pakistan suicide mosque bombing kills 32AFP - Saturday, June 6
New 'atmosphere' to restart Mideast talks: ObamaAFP - Saturday, June 6
N.Korea agrees to talks with S.Korea: officialsAFP - Saturday, June 6
Susan Boyle out of London clinic: brotherAFP - Saturday, June 6
Enlarge Photo
Two men look on as media teams continue their live broadcasts from outside the Houses of Parliament on June 3. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is reshuffling his cabinet as he battles to stay in his job after a minister quit and called on the beleaguered premier to resign.
Most Popular – World
Viewed
US actor Carradine dead, suicide suspected: Thai police
Black boxes may never be found: crash investigators
Carradine may have died from sex act: Thai police
World 'getting closer' to swine flu pandemic: WHO
Pandemic warnings as swine flu spreads to Africa
View Complete List »
Search:
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy
- Terms of Service
- Community
- Intellectual Property Rights Policy
- Help
Other News on Friday, 5 June 2009 Taliban release all kidnapped students: officials
Britons jailed for life for French student murders
White House Web push for Obama speech
Militants blow up girls school in Pakistan: police
US actor Carradine dead, suicide suspected: Thai police
Indonesian woman faces jail over email complaint
President Obama meets Saudi king
Sberbank 'could sell Opel stake to Russian investor'
Stolen Renoir turns up near Venice, after 25 years
ECB, BoE hold record low rates, analysts eye bonds
First Afghan fibre optic cable connects to Tajikistan
Hezbollah camp seen gaining in Lebanon vote
Retailer Wal-Mart plans to add 22,000 US jobs
Bin Laden criticises Obama in new tape
NKorean navy boat crosses border with South: official
Thai 'Yellow Shirts' register new party: official
China's Hu, Obama discuss NKorea: state media
Palm Pre gets thumbs up in media reviews
| Technology
|
China's Hu, Obama discuss NKorea: state media
Canada will not regulate online broadcasters
| Technology
|
S.Korea's economy still gloomy: official data
China, Japan to launch talks on copyright piracy
Philippines plan to cut rice import
Poisoned liquor suspected in 25 Indonesian deaths
Collector: footbinding forerunner to fashion
Whitney Houston to release comeback album this fall
| Entertainment
|
Billy Elliot set to win big at Tony Awards
| Entertainment
|
Three US soldiers, poll candidate killed in Afghanistan
EU polls kick off with boost for Dutch right-winger
Obama seeks to change Muslim perceptions of U.S.
| International
|
Videogames delivering workouts along with fun
Carradine may have died from sex act: Thai police
Taliban release all kidnapped students: officials
UK PM Brown battles to hold on in face of revolt
| International
|
Brazil mistakes sea 'trash' for plane crash debris
White House launches online offensive for Obama speech
GM hopes to return to profit by 2011: court papers
Speed an issue in Air France crash, search goes on
| International
|
US says speeding up visas for researchers
Oldest serving cop in US dies at age 84
No sign of debris yet at jet crash site: Brazil
U.S. to impose financial sanctions on North Korea: report
| International
|
Israel gives mixed signals on Iran attack
Intel buying Wind River Systems for $884 mln
EU to send mission to Moscow and Kiev over gas dispute
Philippine army kills 13 rebels in heavy fighting
| International
|
Bomb in Baghdad cafe kills 7
All Israeli options against Iran on table
China security tight in Tiananmen
| International
|
China bus fire kills at least 24: Xinhua
| International
|
Drug gangs kill 11 in Mexico, mutilate bodies
| International
|
US, China need to lead on climate: US senator
Iran leader issues veiled criticism of moderates
| International
|
Climate talks move into next phase
Carradine may have died from sex act: Thai police
NKorea sees SKorean president in Roh's suicide
Suspense builds ahead of Apple extravaganza
| Technology
|
Obama vows 'new beginning' with Islam
Apple's Jobs ready to return from leave: report
| Technology
|
Koreans Pak, Lee share LPGA lead
US, Israeli defense ministers meet in Washington
China: At least 24 die in bus fire in southwest
US, China need to lead on climate: US senator
Nintendo rejected rivals' technology choice: report
| Technology
|
North Korea silent on fate of US journalists
Tech firms see 18 percent drop in storage revs: report
| Technology
|
Obama urges laggards get ready for digital TV
| Technology
|
Progress but still no deal on NKorea sanctions: UN
Videogame industry prays for resilient 2009
| Technology
|
US actor Carradine found hanged in Thai hotel
Aussie cricker Symonds ordered home, career in the balance
Canon revives new plant as camera sales hold firm
| Technology
|
Just a few on Twitter do all the tweeting: study
| Technology
|
Sony joins Universal, YouTube for music video site
| Technology
|
India new govt will focus on growth, help poor
Vietnam Airlines gets $120 mln loan for six aircraft
Pakistan's forex rise $330 mln to $11.52 bln
Pakistan stocks extend losses on economy, tax worries
Thai coroner seeks cause of Kung Fu actor's death
| Entertainment
|
Next season on the box? Anti-crisis 'Heal TV'
Edie Falco: from mobster wife to pill-popping nurse
| Entertainment
|
Europride gay festival expects 50,000 in Zurich
Chris Pine looks Unstoppable
| Entertainment
|
Soweto hopes to score on SAfrica's Confeds Cup
Heath Ledger documentary to air on Ovation TV
| Entertainment
|
Bollywood union boycotts Australia over attacks
Lost, Hangover try to catch Up at box office
| Entertainment
|
Defying recession, Japan's green cars surge in popularity
Reality gets Stranger with arranged-wedding show
| Entertainment
|
The Shield leads TV critics' nominations
| Entertainment
|
Calling Earth from the Air: world release of green movie 'Home'
Guns and drugs? Some rappers inflate hustler image
| Entertainment
|
Iconic Berlin Wall kiss to smack again: gallery
NY Philharmonic to play Platoon theme in Vietnam
| Entertainment
|
Australia PM outraged over sick kids TV stunt
"Carefree again", says Placebo's Brian Molko
Iraq, Afghanistan to resume ties soon: diplomats
Blind Japanese woman receives IBM's top award
British PM tries to save govt with cabinet reshuffle
Bomb kills 40 in Pakistan mosque as Holbrooke visits
| International
|
Rio Tinto calls off massive Chinalco tie-up
Iran to Obama: "sweet talk" not enough for Muslims
Obama speech aims to fix rift with Muslims
Myanmar court delays Suu Kyi trial, witness ruling
| International
|
Obama hopeful of Mideast peace progress this year
| International
|
Ukraine leader vows to block election changes
| International
|
Berlusconi says topless photos invasion of privacy
| International
|
Mogadishu exodus swells, Islamists battle for town
| International
|
Dalai Lama shrugs off concern over Dutch meeting
| International
|
Obama pledges Mideast peace drive
Obama speech widely hailed but foes still sceptical
U.S. says nuclear arms talks with Russia productive
Microsoft exec sees lower margins from cloud
| Technology
|
Sandra Bullock ... hates romantic comedies?
Philippine May inflation at 3.3pct, 18-month low
First Pacific denies Philippines asset swap bid
China, Japan should team up on product safety
Susan Boyle out of London clinic
Seoul shares end higher as techs, banks advance
Sky's the limit for Singapore gardens
China considering environmental tax: govt
Sandra Bullock ... hates romantic comedies?
NZ dollar steady, data eyed; debt weak
Susan Boyle leaves clinic, eyes U.S. success
| Entertainment
|
Growth figures confirm S.Korea avoided recession
World Bank: 900 mln dollar aid package to Pakistan
South Korea c.bank downplays recovery talk
Taiwan dollar ends at 1-week low on fund outflows
Bollywood producers, Indian multiplexes end standoff
| Entertainment
|
Researchers Say Playing Music In Stairwells May Help Fight Obesity
Kelly Osbourne's Hair Fell Out After Bleach-Job
Couple Conceived Baby At Green Day Show, Named Child Dookie
Saudi Prince Goes To Excess With $481 Million Private Jet
Prince William Is Dead Claims Google Database; The Prince Begs To Differ
Mysterious Lights Have Brits Eyeing Night Sky
Angelina Jolie Dethrones Oprah As Forbes Most Powerful Celeb
New York City Shelters Homeless At Vacant Luxury Condos
David Beckham Likes Eating Italian Delicacy "Little Bum"
Cameron Diaz Wishes She Had A Bigger Butt
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights