Friday, June 05, 2009 LONDON: Another minister in Gordon Brown's cabinet resigned -- and also called for the U.K. prime minister himself to quit -- as the Labour Party braced for a poor showing in local and European elections.U.K. voters cast ballots Thursday for both local offices and spots in the European Parliament, with a focus on the question of how well -- or how poorly -- the ruling Labour Party, headed by Brown, will fare. It's the last U.K.-wide electoral test ahead of a general election which must be called before next June, and Brown's party has been forecast in some recent polls to finish third or even fourth in both elections. That would add to pressure for the prime minister to step aside amid frustrations with the U.K.'s recession and a series of scandals.As polls closed at 10 p.m. in London on Thursday, Brown received another rude shock, this one from a member of his own cabinet. U.K. Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell resigned from the post and called on Brown to step aside for the good of the Labour Party.Purnell became the third member of Brown's cabinet to quit in as many days -- but the first to openly call for the prime minister to quit. While not the biggest name in the cabinet, Purnell has been seen as a rising star."I now believe your continued leadership makes a Conservative victory more, not less, likely," wrote Purnell in a letter to Brown. The opposition Conservative Party has surged ahead of Labour in opinion polls in recent months. Purnell added: "Calling on you to stand aside to give our party a fighting chance of winning" in the next general election."The Prime Minister is disappointed by the resignation of James Purnell," a spokesman for Brown said. "His focus over the coming days will be on restructuring the government on the big challenges facing the country for the future."The anger aimed at Brown has gained such momentum that he now faces questions about his ability to even survive until the next election, much less win it. In a bout of turmoil within Labour, five government ministers, three at the Cabinet level, have resigned from their posts this week.
Friday, June 05, 2009 LONDON: Another minister in Gordon Brown's cabinet resigned -- and also called for the U.K. prime minister himself to quit -- as the Labour Party braced for a poor showing in local and European elections.U.K. voters cast ballots Thursday for both local offices and spots in the European Parliament, with a focus on the question of how well -- or how poorly -- the ruling Labour Party, headed by Brown, will fare. It's the last U.K.-wide electoral test ahead of a general election which must be called before next June, and Brown's party has been forecast in some recent polls to finish third or even fourth in both elections. That would add to pressure for the prime minister to step aside amid frustrations with the U.K.'s recession and a series of scandals.As polls closed at 10 p.m. in London on Thursday, Brown received another rude shock, this one from a member of his own cabinet. U.K. Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell resigned from the post and called on Brown to step aside for the good of the Labour Party.Purnell became the third member of Brown's cabinet to quit in as many days -- but the first to openly call for the prime minister to quit. While not the biggest name in the cabinet, Purnell has been seen as a rising star."I now believe your continued leadership makes a Conservative victory more, not less, likely," wrote Purnell in a letter to Brown. The opposition Conservative Party has surged ahead of Labour in opinion polls in recent months. Purnell added: "Calling on you to stand aside to give our party a fighting chance of winning" in the next general election."The Prime Minister is disappointed by the resignation of James Purnell," a spokesman for Brown said. "His focus over the coming days will be on restructuring the government on the big challenges facing the country for the future."The anger aimed at Brown has gained such momentum that he now faces questions about his ability to even survive until the next election, much less win it. In a bout of turmoil within Labour, five government ministers, three at the Cabinet level, have resigned from their posts this week.
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