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Britain's Brown refuses to quit

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-06-06 11:31

LONDON -- British Prime Minister Gordon Brown battled desperately Friday to keep his job, ignoring demands to quit amid a flurry of Cabinet resignations and a swelling rebellion in the ranks of his Labour Party.

Brown, who waited impatiently for a decade to inherit his job from Tony Blair, promoted loyalists to Cabinet posts in a shake-up of his team aimed at restoring his credibility. It follows a scandal over lawmakers' expenses and catastrophic results in local elections.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown speaks to the media during a press conference in 10 Downing Street, London Friday June 5, 2009. [Agencies]

His actions failed to quell a mood of dissent among rank-and-file legislators, or stem a procession of walkouts by once-loyal colleagues. Caroline Flint quit her post as Europe minister -- one of 10 ministers to resign out of 23 -- and accused Brown of keeping her as "female window dressing" in a male-dominated Cabinet.

Dissident legislators said a plot to oust Brown could gather pace when expected dismal results in the European Parliament elections are announced Sunday.

"I will not waver. I will not walk away. I will get on with the job," Brown told reporters. He insisted he won't be forced from office and said he can defy all predictions by winning a national election that must be called by June 2010.

Opponents say Brown is tainted by the economic crisis and the expenses scandal, has little authority over his ranks and is so unpopular that his governing Labour Party is doomed to defeat when voters next have a chance to choose a government.

Related readings:  2 more ministers quit Brown govt  Brown tries to save government with reshuffle  Brown battles to hold on in face of revolt  Brown pledges clean-up after scandal  UK expenses scandal prompts backlash against Brown

Britain's main opposition Conservative Party routed Brown's party in local elections Thursday, winning council seats in former Labour strongholds in northern and central England.

"I now believe your continued leadership makes a Conservative victory more, not less, likely," Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell told Brown late Thursday in a letter, quitting his Cabinet post.

Despite his insistence that he can revive Labour's fortunes, analysts said Brown's position as British leader is in serious peril. "I don't see what Brown can do. I think the damage has gone too deep now," said Pete Dorey, a political scientist at the University of Cardiff.

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