Caroline Flint quits Government

Caroline Flint, the Minister for Europe, has quit the Government, accusing the Prime Minister of treating her as "female window dressing".

The announcement came late this afternoon as Gordon Brown was giving a press conference after his Cabinet reshuffle.

She accused him of running a "two-tier" Government: his inner circle and the remainder of the Cabinet.

Mr Brown insisted he was staying on and would not be calling an election, despite disastrous local Government elections that saw the Government losing 250 council seats and the Conservatives gaining 217.

As a result, Labour does not control a single council, while the Conservatives control 29 and the Liberal Democrats one.

Glenys Kinnock will replace Caroline Flint and immediately join the House of Lords.

In a surprise move, Sir Alan Sugar has been peerage and a new role as enterprise czar.

The announcement came after an extraordinary 24 hours day for the Government, with the resignations of Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell, and Defence Secretary John Hutton, who is standing down as an MP.

Housing Minister Margaret Beckett has also left the Government, while Norwich MP Ian Gibson has stepped down, forcing a by-election.

New Appointments: