国际英语新闻：Britain's Pension Secretary resigns amid Labor MP mutiny

LONDON, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Britain's Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell resigned on Thursday amid a mutiny from Labor members of parliament (MPs) and calls for a general election.

    In a resignation letter released to the UK media, Purnell said he should step down for the good of the Labor Party as Prime Minister Gordon Brown's continued leadership makes a Conservative victory more likely, and that he no longer had confidence in the prime minister, Sky news reported.

    Purnell is the third government minister to quit the cabinet in three days. On Wednesday, Communities and Local Government Secretary Hazel Blears stepped down over the expenses scandal which found her not paying capital gains tax when selling another property on which she had claimed the parliamentary second homes allowance. She later repaid 13,000 pounds (21,000 U.S. dollars) to HM Revenue and Customs.

    Earlier, it was revealed that Home Secretary Jacqui Smith will also leave the government at the next reshuffle expected to take place on Friday.

    Meanwhile, Brown has been under great pressure to step down as MPs are reportedly collecting signatures for his removal and Conservative Party leader David Cameron has been calling for an immediate general election.

    It is also rumored that after the English local elections and European elections on Thursday in which Labor is expected to suffer a serious blow, Brown will have a cabinet reshuffle in a desperate move to regain voters' confidence. And Chancellor Alistair Darling is also rumored to go following his expenses claims.