The British Home Secretary, Charles Clarke, is facing further pressure to resign following reports that there may be up to 1,500 more foreign prisoners in British prisons than previously thought.
Mr Clarke came in for criticism after it was revealed earlier this week that 1,000 foreign criminals had been released into the community when they should have been considered for deportation.
The BBC reported this morning that 900 inmates of no recorded nationality are currently in the British prison system while a further 600 have falsely claimed British nationality.
Meanwhile, reports from London say the British Prime Minister faces the challenge of restoring the ruling Labour Party's authority, as a government, after becoming engulfed in scandal and crisis just a week ahead of crucial local elections.
Newspapers have highlighted the separate crises involving Charles Clarke and two other cabinet ministers which are being described as a test of Tony Blair's authority.
Aside from the controversy surrounding Mr Clarke, yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott admitted having an affair, and the Health Secretary, Patricia Hewitt, was jeered at a conference by nurses angry about Labour's flagship health reform.
According to one opinion poll this week, Labour support has fallen to its lowest point since 1987, when Margaret Thatcher's Conservative Party was in power.
