Beleaguered Gordon Brown: 'I will not walk away'
Updated on 05 June 2009
Gordon Brown has said he will carry on as Prime Minister despite a string of senior ministers quitting his Government.
At a No 10 press conference, Mr Brown said: "If I didn't think I was the right person leading the right team ... I would not be standing here. I have faith in doing my duty ... I believe in never walking away in difficult times."
He admitted Labour had plunged to "a painful defeat" in the local elections, but added: "I will not waver. I will not walk away. I will get on with the job."
He said the current political crisis, fuelled by the Westminster expenses scandal "is a test of everyone's nerve - mine, the Government's, the country's".
During the press conference, Mr Brown also confirmed the surprise resignation of Europe minister Caroline Flint and that she is being replaced by Glenys Kinnock - wife of former Labour leader Neil Kinnock.
But in her resignation letter, a furious Ms Flint accused Mr Brown of using women ministers as "female window dressing" as well as operating a "two-tier Government: your inner circle and the remainder of the Cabinet".
Late on Thursday, Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell made the shock announcement that he was resigning and he called on Mr Brown to quit as PM for the good of the party. Hours later, Defence Secretary John Hutton said he was going, with Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon hot on his heels.
And as Norwich North MP Ian Gibson announced his resignation with immediate effect over his expenses claims, it emerged that Margaret Beckett and Employment minister Tony McNulty are also going.
Mr Hutton, one of Tony Blair's closest allies and known to have private reservations about Mr Brown as leader, is standing down as MP for Barrow and Furness at the next General Election. Armed Forces minister Bob Ainsworth will replace him as Defence Secretary.
Mr Hutton said: "My decision is a personal one. I am absolutely committed to supporting Gordon as Prime Minister and doing everything I can to get a Labour Government elected at the next Election."
Asked if he was deserting a "sinking ship" Mr Hutton said: "I am not deserting Gordon, I am not deserting my party, I am not deserting my Government."
And asked about Mr Purnell, Mr Hutton said: "I disagree with James, I have a great deal of respect for him both as a man and a politician and I think the politicians that are always remembered are those who actually have the courage to say 'Look, difficult though it is, this is what I think'."
He continued: "Now I disagreed with James' view about how we can best conduct our affairs over the next year or so because I don't think there is an alternative; Gordon is our leader, we should support him."
Mr Hutton rejected suggestions that Mr Brown's departure was now "inevitable", adding: "We have made our choice of party leader and Prime Minister and it is our responsibility to support him now in these very difficult times and I will certainly be doing that."
Tory leader David Cameron said of Mr Brown: "He is not reshuffling the Cabinet, the Cabinet is reshuffling him. If he cannot run the Cabinet, how can he run the country?
"The argument for a general election has always been strong, now it is unanswerable."
He said the premier was "treating the British public like fools" and added: "All roads lead towards the need for a general election in this country."
And Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg's chief of staff Danny Alexander said: "As Gordon Brown struggles to find people willing to work with him and sees his poll ratings hit new depths, his only response is to pack his cabinet with members of the House of Lords.
"As the voters turn against Gordon Brown his reaction is to create a cabinet that is not answerable to the people of this country. Is this return to 19th century government the 'new type of politics' he promised us?
"These end-of-the-show peers won't save the Labour party. There needs to be an election to finally put this sorry saga to an end."
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