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Gordon Brown was struggling to maintain his authority last night after his fightback reshuffle planned for next week was left in disarray by the early departure of three ministers.

Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, Tom Watson, the Cabinet Office minister and a close ally of Mr Brown, and Beverley Hughes, the Children’s Minister, are all leaving the Government.

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.”

The mood darkened further when four Labour MPs embroiled in the expenses scandal — Elliot Morley, David Chaytor, Ian Gibson and Margaret Moran — were barred from standing at the next election by the party’s disciplinary panel. Dr Gibson’s local party complained that their wishes were ignored and described the panel as a kangaroo court. Jim Devine has also been referred to the panel over allegations that he submitted receipts from a firm that may not have existed.

There were rumours last night that senior Labour MPs were urging colleagues to sign a letter declaring that they had no confidence in Mr Brown.

Downing Street declined to confirm Ms Smith’s or Mr Watson’s plans. Both refused to say publicly that they would step down. They made plain their strong support for Mr Brown.

That their intentions leaked out was described as an attempt to destabilise Mr Brown before the European and local elections. “Someone is trying to sabotage this reshuffle,” a senior MP said. Mr Brown may have to bring the changes forward to maintain his grip.

Others insisted that Ms Smith’s plan to step down, to concentrate on fighting for her marginal seat, had long been suspected. There have also been rumours about Mr Watson bowing out for some time. Ms Hughes is standing down for family reasons.

A source said that the revelations were the result of a “cock-up”. He said that Ms Hughes made her announcement after learning that the former minister Patricia Hewitt was announcing that she would stand down from Parliament. He said that Ms Smith got caught up in the same speculation.

Ms Hughes and Ms Hewitt will leave Parliament at the next election. Both denied that their decisions were related to the expenses scandal. Fifteen MPs have handed in their notice since the expenses furore erupted.

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