PM tackles make-or-break reshuffle
Gordon Brown was readying a make-or-break reshuffle after Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell dramatically resigned and called for him to stand down.
A host of Cabinet ministers lined up to back the embattled Prime Minister in the wake of Mr Purnell's bombshell departure.
But two of those tipped as successors to Mr Brown, Health Secretary Alan Johnson and Foreign Secretary David Miliband, stopped short of criticising their former colleague's actions.
Mr Johnson released a short statement to the Press Association insisting: "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."
Meanwhile, Mr Miliband, a close ally of Mr Purnell, merely indicated he would not be resigning from the Government.
There was growing speculation that Mr Darling would be kept on as Chancellor in the reshuffle, despite reports that Mr Brown had wanted to move him. Yvette Cooper is also expected to be promoted from Chief Secretary to the Treasury.
Mr Purnell gave the PM only moments' notice of his bombshell departure, announced in an open letter published in the media as polls closed in crucial council and European elections.
As he became the fifth minister to resign in three days, the leading Blairite plunged the Government deeper into crisis by saying that Mr Brown's removal was needed to give Labour "a fighting chance" of victory at the general election.
"I now believe that your continued leadership makes a Conservative victory more, not less, likely," he wrote. "We need to show that we are prepared to fight to be a credible Government and have the courage to offer an alternative future. 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."
Conservatives demanded an immediate General Election, calling on the Prime Minister to go to Buckingham Palace on Friday to ask for a dissolution of Parliament. David Cameron said the Government was "falling apart in front of our eyes".
