LONDON - BRITISH Prime Minister Gordon Brown lost his fourth minister within 24 hours on Wednesday as he faced taunts that his government was in meltdown on the eve of polls which could seal his fate.

Amid talk that the wave of resignations may be the beginning of the end of his premiership, Mr Brown faced a rowdy Prime Minister's Questions session at which Conservative leader David Cameron urged a snap general election.

The 4 ministers who quit Communities and Local Government Secretary Hazel Blears became the fourth minister in two days to announce she was quitting. She said she wanted to return to 'grassroots' politics but had faced recent criticism from Mr Brown over her expense claims. ... more

'The government is collapsing before our eyes,' said Mr Cameron, tipped by opinion polls to be elected as premier within a year. 'Why doesn't he take the one act of authority left to him: get down to the palace, ask for a dissolution (of parliament), call that election?'

Nick Clegg, leader of the second opposition Liberal Democrats, said Brown's Labour Party was 'in total meltdown.'

The premier hit back by stressing his policies on pulling Britain out of recession and dismissing the Conservatives as nothing but 'talk, talk and talk,' prompting Mr Cameron to charge that he was 'in denial.'

The exchanges came on the eve of Thursday's European Parliament and English local council elections, which are predicted to be a bloodbath for Labour.

A new YouGov poll for the Daily Telegraph among people certain to vote in the European elections suggested Labour can count on just 16 per cent support.

That puts them in third place behind the Conservatives and, damagingly, behind the anti-EU party, the UK Independence Party (Ukip), which is on 18 per cent.

Some reports suggest he could face a leadership challenge before the next general election, which must be held within a year, possibly from Health Secretary Alan Johnson.

Sky News television reported that an email was circulating late Wednesday among Labour MPs encouraging Mr Brown to step down, while the BBC said it had seen a letter from a Labour MP, likely be circulated on Friday, urging him to quit.

Labour Party rules state that 72 MPs must sign a motion of no-confidence to trigger a leadership election. Labour currently has 350 MPs, a majority of 63. -- REUTERS