British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has insisted he is determined to stay despite a fracturing of his authority and backbench calls for him to go.
Yesterday's reshuffle effectively overshadowed a disastrous showing by Labour in the local government elections which saw the party lose control of its four remaining county councils in England.
Overall, Labour appears to be heading for total losses of around 300 local authority seats while the Conservatives picked up more than 200.
But the results of the European Parliament elections have yet to be announced and another drubbing for Labour when they come out on Sunday evening could be the cue to the rebels to show their hand when MPs return to Westminster on Monday.
Mr Brown could also be hit by a revolt among middle and junior ministers as he completes his full Government reshuffle next week.
Last night Europe Minister Caroline Flint stormed out after being denied a promotion to the Cabinet which she apparently believed that she had been promised following a declaration of loyalty.
The Prime Minister had been forced to bring forward the reshuffle, which had originally been pencilled in for Monday.
