Gordon Brown was on Thursday night fighting for his political life after a third cabinet minister resigned as the polls closed on local and European elections expected to inflict a drubbing on Labour.

James Purnell, a leading Blairite, became the first cabinet minister to call openly for Mr Brown to go, as he dramatically quit as work and pensions secretary. Mr Purnell’s move will rock the government, as he is the first cabinet minister to resign who was not expected to be sacked in the reshuffle.