British Prime Minister Tony Blair hit the campaign trial today ahead of local elections later this week amid uncertainty over the future of two senior ministers.
Home Secretary Charles Clarke has rejected calls for his resignation over the
release of 1,000 foreign prisoners from British jails, while Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott is under pressure over an affair with a civil servant in his department.
Mr Clarke sparked a furore last week when he said 1,023 foreign nationals, including murderers and rapists, were released after serving their sentences when they should have been considered for deportation.
Mr Clarke has defended himself and says he intends to stay in the job to ensure the mess is sorted out.
In the case of Mr Prescott, Stephen Pound, Labour MP for Ealing North, said it was time for Mr Blair's right-hand man to "consider his position very, very carefully".