Kennedy departing Gordon Brown's Cabinet

LONDON, June 8 (UPI) -- British Environment Minister Jane Kennedy will join the exodus of Labor Party politicians leaving the Cabinet of Prime Minister Gordon Brown, sources say.

Without naming sources, the BBC reported Monday it is unclear if Kennedy's departure is a voluntary move or a firing as part of Brown's Cabinet reshuffle in the face of widespread calls for his resignation. Kennedy, a member of Parliament from Liverpool, resigned from the Cabinet once before as health minister in 2006, the broadcaster said.

With her departure, Kennedy joins Jacqui Smith, Hazel Blears and James Purnell as Cabinet members who have abandoned Brown as he struggles with low approval ratings and the fallout of the expenses scandal, in which some Cabinet members -- along with members of Parliament of all parties -- were found to have made dubious personal expense claims, analysts say.

Cabinet ministers Geoff Hoon, John Hutton and Paul Murphy also stepped down Friday as part of the reshuffle although they insisted they backed Brown, who says he won't let the political turmoil force his resignation.