UK tensions mount, more MPs step down

In the wake of the public finance scandal that has rocked Parliament and 10 Downing Street, yet another member of Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s Cabinet has resigned his post. Defence Secretary John Hutton stepped down barely 12 hours after Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell vacated his position.

The Telegraph reports:

While the timing of his announcement comes at an intensely difficult time for the PM, Mr Hutton insisted he remained supportive of Mr Brown. He said he wished to leave Government and parliament for personal reasons.

“I’m standing down from the Cabinet because I am leaving frontline politics, I’m not going to be contesting my seat at the next general election and I think it is absolutely right that Gordon, whom I’m supporting as Prime Minister and party leader, should have a Cabinet that is going to be with him and take him through the general election and hopefully beyond,” he said.

“I can’t be part of that team because of my decision which I have been talking to Gordon Brown about for some time.”

“I believe very strongly that it is the responsibility of all Labour MPs to show unity and support for our leader and our Prime Minister at this time and that is certainly what I’ll be doing when I go back to the back benches.”

Mr Purnell quit last night and called on Mr Brown to step down for the good of the Labour Party. On Wednesday, Hazel Blears quit, saying Labour needs to “reconnect” with the electorate.

Despite Mr Hutton’s tributes to Mr Brown, the Blairite is is known to harbour deep private doubts about the Prime Minister’s leadership.

David Cameron’s Conservative Party appears to be making great gains in the local elections, held yesterday. Check out this map for up-to-date results. According to results available at the time of this post, Conservatives have gained 48 seats, while Brown’s Labour Party has lost 41. Results are still being tallied.