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Gordon Brown won a reprieve for his leadership today with a Cabinet reshuffle that sees Alistair Darling stay as Chancellor and Alan Johnson promoted to Home Secretary.
In a day of astonishing developments: Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon resigned — just hours after Defence Secretary John Hutton also left the Cabinet. They were the fourth and fifth Cabinet members to go this week.
Margaret Beckett, who was criticised for extravagant expenses claims, was sacked.
Mr Brown tonight insisted he would carry on as Prime Minister, adding: "If I didn't think I was the right person leading the right team... I would not be standing here."
He said: "I will not waver. I will not walk away. I will get on with the job."
His reshuffle saw Yvette Cooper become Work and Pensions in place of James Purnell — whose resignation last night triggered the crisis — making her and husband Ed Balls, who will stay as Children's Secretary, the most powerful couple in politics.
In a series of big promotions for Blairites, reformer Lord Adonis becomes the new Transport Secretary and Liam Byrne goes to the Treasury as Chief Secretary, where he will watch over Mr Darling.
Sir Alan Sugar accepted a peerage and a place as the Government's “enterprise czar”, working with Lord Mandelson — again a big winner, rewarded for his loyalty and advice with an enhanced Business Department.
Sir Alan said he accepted his peerage and new role for “the need of the country”.
But the Prime Minister seemed to be hanging on despite the havoc triggered by Mr Purnell's dramatic resignation last night.
Mr Brown moved with lightning speed to patch the broken Cabinet, but he was clearly weakened and lacked the strength to carry out his plan to install chief ally Mr Balls at the Treasury.
His old friend the Chancellor turned down at least two senior Cabinet posts. It was a stunning victory for Mr Darling, who was supported by dozens of backbenchers.
But Health Secretary Mr Johnson agreed to take on the Home Office, a promotion that will test the mettle of the man who has been tipped to take over if the civil war in Labour's ranks finally kills off Mr Brown.
But Mr Johnson said he had no ambition to be leader: “I can see no way that I would be ever Prime Minister and I'm certainly backing this Prime Minister to the hilt.”
Mr Hoon, who was engulfed in the expenses controversy, went amicably and is being given two international advisory roles by Mr Brown.
He is unofficially lined up to be the next British European Commissioner.
David Miliband stays at the Foreign Office, one of several critical senior Blairites who finally rallied behind Mr Brown. Jack Straw, another pivotal figure, remains Justice Secretary.
Harriet Harman looks set to stay put as Commons leader. In other big changes, moderniser Andy Burnham goes from Culture, being replaced by Ben Bradshaw, to Health.
The new Defence Secretary, Bob Ainsworth, moves up from Armed Forces minister, and Peter Hain returns as Welsh Secretary.
Another spectacular comeback is made by Tessa Jowell, the Olympics Minister. Not only is she restored to full Cabinet status, she becomes Minister for London again.
John Denham will be the new Communities Secretary, replacing Hazel Blears. Jim Murphy stays as Scottish Secretary.
It appeared that Mr Purnell's devastating resignation letter succeeded in weakening but not destroying the Prime Minister.
But with the Labour party in febrile mood, Mr Brown's long-term survival is far from secure. Some MPs still said he may only cling on for weeks.
As he carried out the changes, Labour was being given a bloody nose in council elections and facing even worse in Sunday night's European results.
In an ominous development, former Cabinet minister Stephen Byers finally broke cover to signal that the Euro results could trigger a further rebellion.
He said: “I think on Monday Labour MPs will be considering a very important question — is Gordon Brown a winner or is Gordon Brown a loser?
“Let's see how the results are going to come out ... on Monday and Tuesday when we gather back in Westminster I'm sure Labour MPs will be considering what the future direction of the Labour Party should be.”
But senior Blairites ruled themselves out of revolts. Mr Miliband, who said he was “dismayed” by Mr Purnell's decision, added: “Today is a day for working, not resigning.”
Lord Mandelson said that Mr Purnell “did not like the face of the man at the top” rather than disagreeing on policy.
Mr Purnell telephoned the Prime Minister at 9.50pm last night to drop his bombshell.
He emailed his resignation letter, which he had already given to several newspapers, at 9.55pm.
In it, he said: “I now believe your continued leadership makes a Conservative victory more, not less likely. That would be disastrous for our country.”
Mayor of London Boris Johnson today said Mr Brown's premiership was becoming “like the terminal stages of the Thatcher regime”.
He told internet radio station PlayTalkUK: “He's evidently not in control of the Government, and not in control of the country.”
Reader views (102)
David Miliband is "dismayed", and he will always be "dismayed" and one day he will cross over to Tories. Anyway, poor Brown has a poor team, and won't last long.
Elections are round the corner!
- Ariya, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Re David Miliband: "coward", "worm" and "weasel" are words that spring to mind! Miliband admonishing James Purnell, when Miliband and Purnell and Blears and Flint were in league to bring down Brown, is the total height of hypocrisy -- just the kind of man needed for a future PM! Carry on, David. Only problem is that you'll be well into your pension years before Labour again gets a chance to run the provincial government in London!
- Phil Jones, London UK
Surely politics is a very emotive topic, and the various views are very strongly held. But there are times when even turkeys have to stop voting for Christmas. How, in all that is righteous, can 23% of the voting population remain unclear on the catastrophic failure of New Labour. Didn't the leader of this discredited party plainly state that he would listen more carefully to the public. Is retaining dwindling power more important than the urgent needs of the Country. The job that the voters of the UK want Mr Brown to 'get-on-with' is calling a general election.
- J R J, Glen Vine
A good chorus of "The red flag" (a communist hit for years under STALIN) from Keith Price about now, would this soothe the battered blinkered labour supporters. No they are blinkered, and cannot see past the benifit system.
- Thetruthman, United Kingdom
Carry on Gordon!!! you are the only one who can get us out of this mess we are in, its a global mess folks!!! LEST WE FORGET!!!!
We dont want Cameron in with his cronies,i'm old enough to remember when the Tories were in before, SO MUCH SHANANIGAN'S "you watch" no winter fuel allowance, for OAP'S, no more handouts, 5% percent vat on all bills etc etc, MISERY MISERY AND MORE MISERY, better stay the way we are at the moment, its not that bad, "ride the storm"
Now, i'm waiting for the news of the TORIES sleaze to come from the Telegraph ANYDAY NOW!!!!!!
- Annie, london
You keep throwing that dice gordie cos it aint going to get any better. Your still going down holding the record of being the worst prime minister this country has ever had.
- Chris, Rochester
The band on the Titanic were still playing as the ship sank. So come on you blinkered labour supporters, another rousing chorus of your Communist hit song "THE RED FLAG". You are allowed to sing as you sink.
"Out of sight the sensible people of our land hope"
- Thetruthman, United Kingdom
If he was the right person to lead the country, the country would have voted him in..... hes just clinging onto the power he was handed by Blair....
- Rob, London
Gordon Brown was always been, and still is, to the right of his party so should not be in the Labour party let alone, the PM. He should speak right out instead of reading from a script every time he is making a statement or speech. Cameron does the same.
- Thomas Hayes, Leeds UK
Good choices Gordon. I'm backing you. You should not let the evil Tories grind you down.
- Maureen Muirhead, South Kensington, London
Clear message to Brown from the people of this Country - Resign now.
- David, Fleet UK
Lord Alan Sugar of Finchley Foghorn has decided to help Captain Gordy steer the good ship UK on it's perilous journey to the good times.With his vast experience of believing he is the only masterful businessman able to do the job ,it will be a fresh start for all of us. Hopefully the experience of his chairmanship of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club has made him realise that talking down to people,shouting,and reminding everyone from the tea lady to the local newsagent how successful he is, will mean nothing in government.The main reason he took the job was to have on his cv two words..'Lord Sugar'..
- Jonnie Of Brixton, brixton,london,england
If you like Union bashing, like very high unemployment, families being destroyed, and the little man being stood on, then go ahead vote CONSERVATIVE in the next election, they did this for 18 long years.
Finally,
you would of NEVER got a minimum wage in place .... Conservatives don't do that it's not in there thinking, but DUCK HOUSES, CLEANING OF MOATS,AND RIPPING PEOPLE OFF,now thats in there thinking and you and me pay for it?.
- John L., Scarborough North Yorkshire, U.K.
Keith Price, at any Price more like it, Anyway, your conviction that Gordie will win the next election, listening to the fairies at the bottom of the garden is not proof !
- Wills, Soton
Gordon Brown stated " My father taught me not to tell lies, I was not intending to move/sack Alistair Darling " christ his old man must have turned in his grave.
What has politics come to in this country, watching newsnight tonite was painfull, all the new different ministers all repeating each other, all were clearly on message, does not Gordon understand this is the kind of thing that is turning people off politics.
- Steve M, LONDON
Yes, the leadership crisis does have international significance. Britain's contribution to the current issues is on pause. Brown neither leads nor has the trappings of leadership.He is truly the accidental prime minister.
- Geoff, Melbourne, Australia
AN UN-ELECTED PRIME MINISTER LEADING AN UN-ELECTED CABINET
- Neil, Darlington
I was so upset that I cried,
all the way to the chip shop
When I came out there was Gordon,
standing at the bus stop
(And guess who was with him? Yeah, Julie, and they were both laughing at me)
Oh, she is cruel and heartless
to pack me for Gordon
Just cos he's better looking than me
But I know he's a moron, Gordon is a moron
Gordon is a moron, Gordon is a moron
- Joanne, london
Cherry-picking numbers Keith? A bit desperate, eh? Come on, you can do better than that. If the Tories are down, and the Lib Dems are down - and certainly the Socialists are down - where is it all going? I don't see signs of celebrating UKIP and BNP party hacks anywhere, do you? How about putting results in context rather than reading what you want out of them? How about waiting for the end result? It's so much easier to put a face saving spin on a solid end result than on those yet to be announced.
- Rogan, Irving
Perhaps a few rotten eggs will help Brown realise the mood of the people. But then, dictators really don't give a damn.
- Mayer, UK
So the figures show that the Tories atr down 6per cent - and at a time like this. This isn;t good for them
- Keith Price, Luton, England
He is still a dead PM walking. The labour Rebels will be pushing hard. And the stilletto brigade will be hissing and scratching. Brown your going down.
- Thetruthman, United Kingdom
I used to admire alan sugar...no more.
but it's great news that brown is staying we can enjoy the slow danse macabre for longer...
- Amoreno, luxembourg
typical brown,so detached & insensitive of what's going on around him,he's not listening to the people & is totally unaware of the mood of the public
- Peter Daanzo, Eastbourne
Alan sugar,what next!!this is not a serious government and Alastair Darling the expenses fiddler still in charge of the countries exchequer...Bring on the mad hatter!!!
- Jean Matthews, London England
SORRAYA WHO COMMENTS LABOUR HAS DONE A BRILLIANT JOB IN SCHOOLS AN HOSPITALS MUST LIVE ON A DIFFERENT PLANET TO ME. A FRIEND WHO HAD A STROKE, BUT WAS ONE OF THE FEW NOT TO BE PARALYZED , SO WHEN THE WARD CAUGHT THE BUG HE ENDED UP AT MIDNIGHT CLEANING UP HIS OWN SICK IN THE BATHROOM, WHILE THE REST OF THE WARD HAD TO DO IT IN THEIR BEDS.
MEANWHILE PARENTS ARE SO DESPERATE OVER THE STATE OF SCHOOLS THEY RISK ARREST PRETENDING THEY LIVE NEAR THE ONLY DECENT ONE IN A BOROUGH.
SO LETS HEAR NO MORE OF LABOURS DONE A BRILLIANT JOB, COMPARED TO EVEN TWELVE YEARS AGO OUR HOSPITALS AND SCHOOLS ARE SIMPLY GASTLY.
AS TO THE STATE OF OUR STREETS WITH SOARING CRIME PARENTS I TALK TO TELL ME THEY LIVE IN FEAR AND DREAD OF LETTING THEIR TEENAGERS OUT AT NIGHT.
- Alan Green, Woodford Green
Hang on.......
Take a look at the "Great Offices"...
Chancellor, Alastair Darling.
Well liked in the City, strong enough to say "move me if you dare"....
Home Office, Alan Johnson.
Generally accepted to be a good candidate as a successor and who has never really denied it.
Foreign Secretary,David Miliband
Has already had a bit of a go......
I bet they're all buying new GREY SUITS........
- John Emsley, Meillac France
Re-arranging deckchairs on the Titanic ?
- Tonyjhc, london,UK
To quote Cromwell, "In the name of god, go".
- Andy Parks, London, UK
i say, have you seen the emperor's spiffing new suit.
i'm told it's the latest in transparency and bound to set
a new trend in the corridors and revolving doors of
power.
- M.O'Brien, london.uk
Deep in his dark bunker the Great Leader shuffles and re-shuffles the greasy Tarot - ah, the Hanged Man, the Broken Tower, the Witch Queen Yvette, all are there - doom is all around, but the Great Leader knows no fear, shirks no problem, he will carry on doing his job of clinging on to power in the hope that pigs will fly, the moon will turn to green cheese, and he will win the next election. Masterful. Worthy of Lord Mandy the Wizard and his dark arts!!
- Paul Freeman, London, England
The scenes are reminiscent of the Third Reich in its death throes. All the reshuffles in the world will not stop their little world crashing about their head and ears. Alan Sugar being called in to act as Enterprise Tsar is the equivalent of calling up the Volksturm. All the new cabinet positions remind me of Hitler's last public act - conferring Iron Crosses on the doomed Hitlerjugend defenders of Berlin.
- Peter Sykes, Tivat, Montenegro
What's Cameron going to do for Britain? Not much I fear!
£
True he has no wxperience and the revelations on his accounts about to be released by the Telegraph on Sunday will finally blow his political boat out of the water
- Keith Price, Luton, England
I'm surprised that Gordon doesn't have a chat with his unelected EU mate Barroso and then rerun the local elections again and again until he gets the result he wants.
- Doug Watt, london e14
Survived - but for how long?
He's a dead man walking........
- Derek, Barnet
It just shows how low Brown has sunk by appointing a barrow boy and spiv to his cabinet. It was bad enough when this nasty piece of work was given a knighthood but to give him a peerage is scraping the barrel. Sugar has done nothing to benefit the UK as virtually all the junk sold by him has been sourced from abroad and he has, therefore, done considerable damage to our economy.
- Roger, Winchester, England
What's Cameron going to do for Britain? Not much I fear!
- Robert, Philadelphia USA
So busy is Gordon Brown at trying to save his political neck by making right decisions for himself, he ignores the plight of thousands of Working men and Women employed by LDV and Vauxhall. When The German Chancellor was busy in discussions we didn't have anyone there. This is how week and useless this government this government has become as it he watched his naval instead of getting on with the wider issues of Government. British people must save this nation as our forefathers did by turning back dictators such as Napoleon, The Kaiser, and Hitler, This Generation is called on to turn back the creeping strangle hold of the EU has on our national throat by subjecting us to the slavery of having to comply with 180,000 laws that were not passed by our representatives. The Corruption in the EU is so great 95% of the £40 millions a day, £14 billion a year = £190 billions over 14 years 95% of which is unaccounted for/missing. But even worse than that is the fact that 27 Members states paid in trillions 95% of which is missing. Phone. Just a few million of the £40 million a day we hand to the EU and is stolen given to LDV would have saved this company. Write, Email, your MP and tell them that we want an election and a referendum on the EU.
- Jas, Camberley UK
A reshuffle of all the jokers in the pack. Buys time that all. But suits the Tories. They have outplayed Brown again. How many good cards have you left? You have to play them now just to survive, but the Tories will not play theirs until you are walking down The Mall to hand in the keys to No 10 at the Palace.
- Albert Hall, hove england
It's hard not to picture these resigning ministers with little rodent faces, running down the mooring ropes of The Gord Ship Lollipop.
- Martin H. Watson, Teddington
Shame Crash Gordon cannot outwit the dire financial and social situation he is leaving our country in...
- Peteo, London NW1
What a shower!
They all deserve each other including "Brown Sugar"
- Pat, Spain
They only backed G for fear of an early election being inevitable if they changed leader again. They can't win with him or without him, heh heh
- Helen, London, Hampstead
If balls is the childrens minister then why did he not stop the scum who killed a 5week old baby.Do your job you idiot.
- John, benidorm,spain
He will never resign anyone with a personality disorder such as his will never admit that they are wrong or not wanted. Also check the latest election results Labour slaughtered.
- Den, London
Keith Price - I'm happy for you that you're happy with the current Labour government. It's clear that you will support them absolutely no matter what they do.
Good for you.
I, on the other hand, am like the vast majority of people in this country - in that I don't really have any strong party connections, and am want to change my mind back & forth over the course of the years depending on what they say, and, more importantly, what they actually do. A 'floating voter'.
I voted Labour in first time round on the back of all their Tory 'sleaze' campaigning, and have subsequently watched as they have become the most corrupted, crooked, lying, cheating, hypocritical, self-serving government we have been subjected to in CENTURIES. (To say nothing of their vast and overwhelming incompetence in so many areas it almost defies belief).
So good for you if you hope and believe they'll win the next election, (people like you will ensure they win some seats) but as much as Britain loves a fighter, Britain hates a hypocrite and a cheat even more.
I'll bet you a pound to a penny Labour will be booted out with all the force they first come to office - if not more so .
- John T, London
The longer Brown hangs on, the bigger the hiding that Labour will get at the General Election.
- Stuart Baker, Leeds, UK
As a certain auld Scotsman used to say "We are all doomed aye were are all doomed!!!"
- Jim, London
HAS CAPITAL GAIN TAX BEEN SCRAPPED THEN. HOW DOES IT GO WHATS GOOSE FOR THE ETC.?
- Alan Green, Woodford Green
I DONT KNOW WHY EVERYONE IS MOAN MOAN MOAN. LABOUR HAS DONE A BRILLIANT BOOMING JOB OVER THE 12 YEARS, HOUSING , HOSPITALS EDUCATION, ETC ETC, WE BLAME EVERYONE IN THIS SOCIETY, FROM IMMIGRANTS TO THE WELFARE I'M SICK OF IT!!!!!!!, HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN WHEN THE TORIES WERE AROUND, OR IS YOUR HEADS IN THE SAND??????
- Sorraya, croydon
Heard Boris talking to Play Radio's Ian Dale today saying that "Labour are in a similar state as the last days of the Thatcher regime".
- David Harber, London, UK
I think Brown has very cleverly survived. All the plotters are gone. The cabinet is stronger without Blears and Co. But Ed Balls( the man who tried to claim for a poppy wreath)? What does a Children's secretary do?
If you've got a Health Minister and an Education Minister, do we need one?
- Peter Little, wendover, bucks
Cabinet: Unelected Prime Minister, unelected Lord Mandelson, unelected 'Lord' Sugar...
- Tv, Hounslow, UK
Keith in Luton......you will probibly find that the telegraph has been waiting for the reshuffle to expose all those new Ministers/Secretaries of your Labour mob have been in the trough.....so your new clean Cabinet will not be whiter than white..........what a shame NOT
- Grumpy As Hell, Wimbledon
Shame about the economics situation. We could have used a government now."
Wrong - as the rise in house prices and in the valus of the pound have clearly shown the Govt are getting on with the job they told us they would do, of getting us out of the world ecomomic downturn. Well done Gordon Brown
- Keith Price, Luton, England
Keith Price - Will you still be in denial after the General Election result is announced? I bet you will.
- Dave Davies, Basingstoke
K Lee, Cheshunt, UK
Don’t be surprised!! Just how many MP's have gone from the conservative ranks due to their abhorrent claims!?! The fact is they are all as bad as each other..Money grabbing, self promoting fools.
The only real difference is that the conservative lot have never had to do a proper days work in their lives (silver spoons rammed firmly into their caviar lined throats)... they are so far divorced from the real world they may as well be from Mars (a very well off and privileged Martian background or course) ...anyone who wants to be governed by any of these people simply needs their head examining... Revolution now!!
- Ade, London
The country needs firm and positive leadership. The longer Gordon Brown prolongs his poltical death throes the worse our predicament becomes. Lord Mandelson and other New Labour figures may be content to blather on about toughness, stamina, durability etc, but when are they and Brown going to put the country first? The answer I fear is never. When the time inevitably does come for them to face the electorate - apart of course from his unelected Lordship - they will get their just deserts. Our time, the people's time, will come. Brown's has come and gone and he should acknowledge it.
- James Elliott, Eastbourne UK
Bring on the General Election,lets rid ourselves of this lot of parasitic cheats,and elect Davids lot of parasitic cheats.
- Janet Turner, Highgate
The rest of the world must be looking on in horror - this is the mother of all democracy shooting itself DEAD. Why hasn't Darling gone - he is a criminal with his nose in our trough and the chancellor - How Dare HE!
- Vanessa, London
Why is everyone expecting the Tories to come in and improve everything? I'm old enough to remember the last Tory government - the one that privatised everything in sight, ran schools, the railways and the health service down to third world standards, gave the rich one tax break after another and was opposed to the minimum wage. Don't expect the next Tory government to be any different.
- Matt, London, UK
Watching Gordon Brown trying to drag his pigs away from their troughs is the most appauling sight Ive ever seen in politics, and his motives are no different from theirs.
- Ian, Reading
This is the first time that I have seen "lightning speed" and "Gordon Brown" used in the same sentence. Is something afoot?
- Matthew, london
Shame about the economics situation. We could have used a government now.
- Georgie, Islington, London
This is absolutely hilarious! I'm really enjoying seeing this government crash and burn, just a shame they're going to drag the country to its knees in the process!
I hope now that all the blinkered Labour supporters finally realise what kind of monster they have allowed to control their party and their government. This arrogant bully of a man will refuse to budge and will further destroy Labour's election hopes the longer he stays in power. This man who they were all so proud of for years is now the millstone around the Labour Party's neck.
May Labour be destroyed in the next general election and may we never have to suffer the horrendous Gordon Brown in public office ever again. Between them they've dragged the country to its knees through their arrogance and stubbornness, and just like every Labour government they will leave another party to clean up the mess.
- Steven, London
Am I surprised? Just take a look at his 'reshuffle' list - not one of his dishonest, questionable cronies is sacked. Need I say more.
- K Lee, Cheshunt, UK
Brown is finished and Labour is finished. The country needs an election before Parliament is finished."
No - an election now might make it look like the Tories are the good guys and Labour the bad guys. I understand The Telegraph is to disclose the Cameron scams and indignities on Sunday so I can't wait to see how he changes his tune again next week
- Keith Price, Luton, England
Move over, Darling.
No!
But I'm the Prime Minister!
And I'm still the Chancellor!
- Ronold, London U.K
For all the waffle and media onslaught he is still there maybe not for long but it does show he is a very determined and tenacious man ,unfortunately his party are too flimsy and not up to the job.Listening to gloating Osbourne yesterday im annoyed i gave his party a vote.Hobson's choice really.
- Tony ,Essex, Harlow,UK
Who wants a general election until ALL the piggies, on both sides, have been exposed to re-selection? Meanwhile, Brown does seem to be doing his unattractive duty, and Darling does have respect from abroad. At this dire stage, they can hardly be in it for themselves, if ever they were.
- Steve, London, England
Brown is finished and Labour is finished. The country needs an election before Parliament is finished.
- Bruce, London
Keith says "Britain loves a fighter, fighting anainst the odds", given this does anyone else think that Mr Brown may be more than a little punch drunk?
- Bob, Cheam
It doesnt matter how Gordon Brown tries to paper over the cracks by placing his most trusted allies in power, at the end of the day the British public wont be mugged off and will vote this buffoon out next year should he survive that long of course.
These Brown loyalists are the most deluded fools ever if they honestly believe Brown is the best man to take Labour and the UK forward.
LABOUR IS DOOMED!
GORDON BROWN IS DOOMED!
POLITICS IS DOOMED!
- Steve, Medway,England
I have no doubt that the Rt. honorably Gordon Brown has experienced and charisma to lead next general election with a victor if all Labour coup d'état members stops for the interfering with our decent leader.
The recent wave of resignation of senior cabinets members ,resentment within Labour MPs and MPs expensive scandals has causes more damages and disintegrate amongst Labour MPs. Mr. Parnell has taken a wrong step and mislead the core of Labour members and supports with a critical moment.
- Abdi Mohamed, London
Man U Fan, London
Another deluded labourite.
The rest of the world is laughing at the disaster that is Gordon Brown. We are a complete laughing stock. I have just returned from the US and know this to be true. Obama can't stand the man. Just watch his body language tomrorow when he has to shake hands with the idiot Brown in France.
Cameron did mention fixed terms as we don't have that at the moment. It was not spin as you somehow seem to think, but an honest suggestion.
Before you start leaving messages about things you don't understand, I suggest you go to google and look for fixed term government. Then you may understand what Cameron meant.
- Tommy, London
How come Keith Price of Luton didn't get a job in the reshuffle? Surely he must be the best man to support Gordon Brownstuff?
- Artfuldodger128, london
Ok I know it's an old saying, but is really does sound like an option - "the last one to leave the UK, turn of the lights"! Wait, I already am, tickets booked and I'm gone, just counting the months and nothing would bring me back!
- Max, London
A few weeks ago David Cameroon was after new independent minded members and reform of the electoral system. One of his ideas was for a fixed term. Now he is calling for an early election which suggests it was just spin. If you talk to people in the US and Europe many believe that Gordon is a good PM. Maybe what we need is an end to spin, hype and media interference!
- Man U Fan, London
I think it,s wonderful Mr Brown has done the right thing for the country by deciding to stay.
Let him and his cowardly ministers suffer a very long and painful death.
- Pat Morgan, spain
There is only one person that can unite the Labour party and save it from complete disaster and that is The Deputy Prime Minister Harriet Harman. A woman of vision and power. C'mon Hattie show us your true mettle announce that you would like a leadership campaign. You would win every day in my book.Johnson would be intellectually trounced.
- E.Nuff, London
Britain loves a fighter, fighting anainst the odds, whether it is Joe Calzhage, Susan Boyle or David Blunkett, snf I believe that Gordon will battle on and ultimately be triumphant at the next election
- Keith Price, Luton, England
Most people don't give a damn about all these personality changes. The facts are
1. The Allowances issue remains very much unfinished and urgent business.
2) Labour have lost considerable ground in yesterdays elections.
3) They will not win next spring in the general election because the electorate want a change.
- William Grierson, Kimpton-UK
Please! They just need a little bit more time to cover their tracks. You can't expect them all to risk jail once they are out of office. Patience is a virtue.
- Trudy, London
How can this be said to have listened to the country, Brown is just pushing the same old tired, expensive, money grabbing MPs around the chess board that is his sinking cabinet.
Rather reminds me of the band playing on the deck of the Titanic.
He has not listened to the people, he has no intention whatsoever of taking on those MPs who have padded out their bank accounts.
Our vote is worthless.
- Derrick, dagenham
Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear! When will GB realise his shelf life is over? It really is time for him to go. At least a new leader whould have the chance of trying to salvage something of this utter mess before the next election. For now GB has survived but he has probably killed any chance that Labour might have had come the next election.
- Ian, Pretoria, South Africa
Good news! We still have the best, the most competent, the most intelligent, the most qualified, the most apt for their jobs, the most loveable, the most charismatic team in charge of our great nation! Led by the Man, the Master of the Economic Universe, the Charmer, the Presbyterian Carer, the Man-in-Charge of Hard-Working British Families ( as he often reminds us...), the very best Prime Minister of all time. Long live our Leaders! Thank goodness we live in a democracy, eh?
- John Problem, Hackney UK
He's survived a round, not the fight. And he's in the ring with Rocky.
- Kevin T, Beckenham, Kent
I am not a tory voter, but Cameron was right this morning. We need a government looking to the future and making policies for the good of the country. We have a group of individuals fighting for their jobs at the moment. It is time for a general election, whatever the outcome.
- Alex C, London
What must we do to rid ourselves of these discredited, hopeless, psychotic, self-obsessed ministers? Drag them out of Downing Street and hang them from the lamp posts in Whitehall? I will be happy to pay for the piano wire.
- J Miller, England
Almost every Labour MP interviewed seems either to have no idea of what the public thinks, or knows but decides to toe the party line and talk complete, mindless, deluded rubbish.
- Ronold, London U.K
Labour will lose many more seats with Brown at the helm than not. Pity for Labour that Harman doesn't have the bottle to stand against him but that's Labour's problem, a load of weak kneed second raters with zero leadership qualities who Brown simply bullies into line. Pathetic.
- Charles, London
They seem to spend more time worrying about their own jobs and fighting amongst themselves, than anything else. Someone want to inform them that this country is in a recession!
- Jk, London
Ed Balls to stay as Children's Secretary (has anybody asked the children?) Alastair Darling, whose mathematical errors (I jest) in calculating his own personal account, is to stay on and run the Country's finances! (You couldn't make it up) Yvette Cooper is tipped for promotion to a big spending department (highly qualified in spending tax payers money!) David Miliband (the Banana Kid) has deigned to stay at the Foreign Office (big of him!) that will have our foreign distracters shaking in their boots! Shaun Woodward, the former Conservative, is expected to be rewarded with promotion for his loyalty, the meaning of the word he would probably need to look up! Not for any particular quality or experience (A placeman). Europe minister Caroline Flint had been expected to resign, but she is now defending Mr Brown in the hope of being rewarded with a new post. I could go on but I’m losing the will to live! Heaven help us all! But what’s new!
- Ij, Wisbech, UK
There's no 'victory' here .... just more time wasting and procrastination before Crash is inevitably booted out, either by his peers or the electorate.
- Marianne, SW France/London
SO THIS DOING WHAT IS BEST FOR THE COUNTRY?
- Gwaddilove, London..England
So, no Balls.
- Vini, London
So, as Chancellor we continue to have Alistair "flipper" Darling because the PM was too weak to remove him and the PM's only chosen replacement was a hopelessly divisive figure. All this despite the careful dirty tricks campaign mounted by No. 10 and Ed Balls and designed to destablise him since the weekend. In truth there were no good options left for Brown after Purnell's resignation and it is difficult to see how his authority can recover to a level that avoids the perception of a moribund Government clinging on to power and hoping that something will turn up.
- Michael, london
Who is saying, Brown survived?!?!?
still waiting for the election results....
- Mario Kempe, london
So the tax cheating Chancellor stays. Oh well it makes no difference, bring on the general election.
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
Trueth is Darling did'nt win. Brown was to scared to sack him because it would have triggered more resignations and ultimately a General Election. A goverment floundering without a rudder tyrying to avoid the next crisis.
- Bill, Belfast
WHAT A PATHETIC GAGGLE OF HYPOCRITES WE HAVE RIPPING OFF JOE PUBLIC AT EVERY TURN.
GORMLESS BROWN IS A CONTROL FREAK GONE MAD.
- Reuben Camara, Morecambe, Lancaster
What a waste of time. Nuliebor are finished but, they just don't get it do they.
- David, Fleet UK