Britain's Gordon Brown yesterday vowed to soldier on as prime minister, admitting that he faced an unprecedented period of turbulence as he awaited another electoral bloodbath.
A day after reshuffling his Cabinet in a desperate bid to reassert his authority, Brown again insisted that he had no intention of stepping down as he headed to the battlefields of Normandy in a brief respite from the fight for his political life.
“I think it's important to recognize that in these unprecedented times, we are bound to have ups and downs in politics,” Brown told reporters as he promised to “clean up politics” in the wake of a blistering expenses scandal.
But despite his defiance, British newspapers said Brown's government had been fatally wounded and called for a general election, while some said it was time for him to step down after a heavy defeat in local English elections.
Results from European polls are due today, which are expected to yield equally disastrous results.
Ten ministers — some embroiled in a row over personal expenses — have resigned in the past week. Political analysts believe Labour has little chance of winning the next general election that must be held by next June.
Former Labour leader Neil Kinnock insisted Brown should remain in power.
“I'm absolutely certain that Gordon is the best man to take us through the recession, which is by far the most dominant issue facing the country and on people's minds,” he told Sky News TV.
On Friday, Brown handed Kinnock's wife Glenys the position of European minister after incumbent Caroline Flint stormed out, saying Brown had “strained every sinew” of her loyalty.
James Purnell quit as work and pensions secretary, saying that under Brown, Labour had no chance of winning the next general election.
Defence secretary John Hutton, transport secretary Geoff Hoon and Welsh secretary Paul Murphy also stepped down on Friday.
Business Secretary Peter Mandelson was instrumental in stopping further ministers from following Purnell, with some persuasive late-night telephone calls, media reported.
He was rewarded with the added title of first secretary of state but denied he was now the “kingmaker” in the UK government.
On Wednesday, Brown repeatedly failed to give job assurances to Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling.
Crucially, Darling remains in place — which commentators said showed Brown was critically damaged, without the authority or the nerve to sack Darling, nor touch other senior ministers like Foreign Secretary David Miliband.
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