British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has rejected calls to step down in the face of more cabinet resignations and an election upset. A defiant Mr Brown said: "I will not waver. I will not walk away. I will get on with the job".

He admitted his party has suffered a "painful defeat" in Thursday's local and European parliamentary elections. Preliminary results show the Labour Party coming third in both polls, well after the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats.

In a bid to stem further desertions, the PM did announce a cabinet reshuffle. On Thursday three ministers quit within 24 hours, bringing the total number of resignations over lawmakers' expenses to nine in a single week.

Alan Johnson will take over as home secretary from Jacqui Smith. Yvette Cooper replaces James Purnell as the new work and pensions secretary. Mr Purnell resigned on Thursday, urging Mr Brown to stand down.