• read top news

Britain`s Brown on the brink after minister quits

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown faced a battle to salvage his authority Friday after a minister insisted his continued leadership would spell disa   Related News     Scotland votes 'no' to independence, promised new powers Britain's 'Iron Lady' Margaret Thatcher dies   Related Articles     Quest of Indiscriminate Justice By Amjad Malik Tory, Labour or Lib Dem? 2010 British election hinges on balance By Amjad Malik   Related Speakout     Blair`s Resignation   More on this   View All Scotland votes 'no' to independence, promised new powers Britain's 'Iron Lady' Margaret Thatcher dies Pak woman becomes Britain's deputy FM Cameron finally becomes UK PM as Brown quits Britain plunged into election deadlock Brown, Cameroon win as experts hint coalition govt Gordon Brown hangs on as another minister quits

LONDON: British Prime Minister Gordon Brown faced a battle to salvage his authority Friday after a minister insisted his continued leadership would spell disaster for Britain as he quit the government.

In a shock move, James Purnell stepped down as work and pensions secretary, urging Brown to resign as the governing Labour Party braced for dire European Parliament and English local election results.

Purnell left as the polls closed Thursday, with all eyes on whether other ministers would follow suit and turn against Brown.

Brown now faces a difficult Cabinet reshuffle, which could take place later Friday if he decides not to hold off until Monday when the European election results will be known.

Finance minister Alistair Darling and Foreign Secretary David Miliband are keen to stay in their heavyweight posts -- and could cause trouble if he ousts them.

End.