Prime Minister Gordon Brown is reshuffling his Labour Party cabinet today.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown reshuffles his Labour Party cabinet today (5 June), amidst a number of recent resignations and growing disappointment with his political performance.

Former Health Secretary Alan Johnson will replace Jacqui Smith as Home Secretary; Alistair Darling will remain Chancellor, and Jack Straw Justice Secretary.

The reshuffle comes alongside news that Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell has stepped down from the cabinet and told Prime Minister Gordon Brown to “stand aside”. According to the BBC, in a letter to several newspapers he said Mr Brown’s continued leadership made a Tory victory “more, not less likely”.

Purnell’s departure comes after the resignation of Home Secretary Jacqui Smith earlier this week, Communities Secretary Hazel Blears on Wednesday and two junior ministers, Beverley Hughes and Tom Watson.

No further cabinet ministers have indicated they will leave as yet, and many have spoken out in support of Mr Brown.

Deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman told GMTV: “If James Purnell wants to make his decision to leave the government, then that’s a matter for him, but he’s not entitled to say that the Prime Minister has to go too, and he’s not going to.”

She added: “Gordon Brown is going to remain steady and resolute, dealing with the collapse of confidence in Parliament and the difficult economic situation, and we will support him loyally.”

As results start coming in from yesterday’s local and European elections around the country, it is thought that Labour could lose its hold on many of its die-hard supporters.

Conservative leader David Cameron and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg are both calling for an early general election.

In a statement, David Cameron stressed: “We need to cleanse our political system. We need a fresh start for this country. It’s all about the Labour party, it’s not about the country. The country deserves so much better than this.”