Beleaguered British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has lost another cabinet minister.
Three senior ministers quit the government on Friday, bringing to total to six in the past four days.
Mr Brown has reshuffled his cabinet in an effort to reassert his authority.
Chancellor Alistair Darling, Foreign Secretary David Miliband and Business Secretary Peter Mandelson stayed in their posts.
The resignations came as Labour braces itself for heavy losses declared so far in local elections in England.
Mr Brown acknowledged that local elections on Thursday were a painful defeat for Labour and accepted responsibility for the setback.
However, at a news conference after details of the reshuffle were announced, Mr Brown said: "I will not waver, I will not walk away, I will get on with the job and I will finish the work."
Parliamentary elections do not have to be held until June 2010.
