Ministers out in force against Purnell

Friday, 5 June 2009 12:00 AM

By Alex Stevenson

Senior members of the government sought to defend Gordon Brown after work and pensions secretary James Purnell's resignation last night.

With the reshuffle underway this morning, ministers waiting for a call by Downing Street jumped to make their position against Mr Purnell clear.

"We won those elections not by turning in on ourselves, or by breaking ranks, or imploding in a way. I'm afraid James' actions might possibly lead to," business secretary Peter Mandelson said.

Defence secretary John Hutton quickly issued a statement last night saying Mr Purnell had made the "wrong decision". Foreign secretary David Miliband said he did not share Mr Purnell's judgment.

And international development secretary Douglas Alexander told the Today programme he backed Mr Brown because "I don't think the public would have much sympathy for a party who turned inwards at this juncture".

Downing Street confirmed last night it would carry out the reshuffle imminently following Mr Purnell's resignation.

A spokesman said the prime minister's focus over the coming days would be "restructuring the government on the big challenges facing the country for the future".

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