Wednesday's papers

Meltdown is the theme in nearly all the papers this morning,a meltdown in government

Disarray in Downing Street says the Independent

Gordon Brown was struggling to regain his authority last night as a planned cabinet reshuffle designed to launch a political fightback was wrecked by a spate of Labour resignations.

The Guardian says that

The collapse of morale sweeping Labour ranks was laid bare yesterday when Jacqui Smith, the home secretary, and Tom Watson, one of Gordon Brown's closest political allies, revealed that they were quitting the government during a chaotic day that often appeared to be spiralling out of Downing Street's control.

The Telegraph reports that

Sources close to Downing Street suggested that Miss Smith’s decision only became public after it was leaked by friends of Hazel Blears, the Communities Secretary, who was criticised by Mr Brown over her expenses claims.

The news came days before a shakeup that many see as the Prime Minister’s last chance to rescue his position. However, some ministers, including David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, are reluctant to change posts. Morale in the party is in shreds. One former Cabinet minister, referring to the state of mind of Labour MPs, told The Times: “They are out for the count.” says the Times

Rats desert sinking ship is the headline in the Mail as it reports that

An emotional Miss Smith told friends she could not stand the pressure on her family over revelations that her husband's porn films were charged to the taxpayer.

Jaw times up says the Sun as it claims

LABOUR backbenchers are plotting to bring down Prime Minister Gordon Brown by signing a letter demanding that he quits,

and the Express claims that the party was last night facing a massive Labour revolt over his plans to anoint his ally Ed Balls as Chancellor.

Labour backbenchers warned that the Education Secretary would be a deeply unpopular choice to rule the Treasury in the depths of a recession.