LONDON (AFP) - Gordon Brown vowed to soldier on as Britains prime minister on Saturday, admitting that he faced an unprecedented period of turbulence he awaited another electoral bloodbath. A day after reshuffling his cabinet in a desperate bid to reassert his authority, Brown again insisted that he had no intention of standing down as he headed to the battlefields of Normandy in a brief respite from the fight for his political life. I think its important to recognise that in these unprecedented times, we are bound to have ups and downs in politics, Brown told reporters as he promised to clean up politics in the wake of a blistering expenses scandal. We keep on with the task at hand ... We are not diverted, he added. But despite his defiance, British newspapers said Browns government had been fatally wounded and called for a general election, while some said it was time for him to step down after heavy defeat in local English elections. Ten ministers - some embroiled in a row over personal expenses - have resigned in the past week. Political analysts believe Labour has little chance of winning the next general election that must be held by June 2010. A victory for the main opposition Conservatives, headed by David Cameron, would see the Tories in power for the first time since 1997. Brown will be hoping his hasty reshuffle does not bring a repeat of Margaret Thatchers downfall as prime minister, which came as she was holed up at a European summit in Paris in November 1990. Former Labour leader Neil Kinnock insisted Brown should remain in power. Im absolutely certain that Gordon is the best man to take us through the recession, which is by far the most dominant issue facing the country and on peoples minds, he told Sky News television. On Friday, Brown handed Kinnocks wife Glenys the position of European minister after incumbent Caroline Flint stormed out saying the premier had strained every sinew of her loyalty. James Purnell quit as work and pensions secretary, saying that under Brown, Labour had no chance of winning the next general election. Defence Secretary John Hutton, Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon and Welsh Secretary Paul Murphy also stepped down Friday. Business Secretary Peter Mandelson was instrumental in stopping further ministers from following Purnell, with some persuasive late-night telephone calls, media reported. He was rewarded with the added title of first secretary of state - de facto deputy prime minister - but denied he was now the kingmaker in the British government. On Wednesday, Brown repeatedly failed to give job assurances to finance minister Alistair Darling. Crucially, he remains in place - which commentators said showed Brown was critically damaged, without the authority or the nerve to sack Darling, nor touch other senior ministers like Foreign Secretary David Miliband. The Sun newspaper on Saturday said Brown was desperately weakened, having been sabotaged by his own party, and called for a general election. The Financial Times newspaper said Brown was still standing - just. The question is whether he can still govern. He has failed to reassert his authority in the cabinet reshuffle. He faces humiliation in the European elections. He should show he commands a clear majority in his party or step down and clear the way for a general election. England held local elections on Thursday and with results in from 33 out of 34 councils, the Conservatives have gained 230 seats and Labour has lost 272. In power since 1997, Labour has been badly hit by a scandal over lavish expense claims from the public purse by lawmakers which has seen 17 MPs say they will step down. Public anger is particularly high as Britain struggles with the worst recession since World War II.