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The little-known Coventry MP Bob Ainsworth has emerged as perhaps the biggest winner from today's chaotic Cabinet reshuffle after being propelled into the job of Defence Secretary.

Mr Ainsworth, currently a junior defence minister, will replace his former boss John Hutton, who threw the reshuffle into disarray when he confirmed his intention to stand down from frontline politics this morning.

His authority weakened by three previous ministerial resignations, Gordon Brown had already ditched plans for a radical ministerial shake-up, leaving Alistair Darling at the Treasury instead of appointing his long-time friend and ally Ed Balls.

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From a position of great weakness the Prime Minister has been able to strengthen his position in the short-term

Philip Webster

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He was also forced to leave David Miliband at the Foreign Office and to promote Alan Johnson - the man seen as his most likely successor if he is forced out - to Home Secretary, a job left vacant by the resignation of Jacqui Smith. In another major promotion, Andy Burnham, the Culture Secretary, will take over at the Department of Health.

The abrupt resignation last night of James Purnell, the Work and Pensions Secretary who called for the Prime Minister to stand down, had prompted speculation of a full-scale coup today.

But Mr Brown appears to have remained in control - if only just - and should emerge strengthened by today's reshuffle unless the so-called backbench "Hotmail plotters" can mount a serious challenge in the coming days.

The party will also be watching closely for the results of yesterday's local and European elections. Today's first results from the council elections showed Labour receiving a drubbing.

In a Sky News interview given even before the formal confirmation of his appointment, Mr Johnson pledged his loyalty to Mr Brown. Asked about his leadership potential, he said: "I'm flattered that people think highly of me, but I want them to to think highly of me as a Home Secretary, serving under the Prime Minister.

"I happen to believe - and I'm not the only one - that Gordon Brown is the best man for the job."

With the gaps plugged, the Cabinet's "big beasts" remained in their jobs: not just Mr Darling and Mr Miliband but also Jack Straw, the Justice Secretary, and Lord Mandelson, the Business Secretary.

Mr Balls, the would-be Chancellor, will remain as Children's Secretary, although his wife, the former Chief Secretary to the Treasury Yvette Cooper, is propelled into a full Cabinet post as Work and Pensions Secretary, replacing Mr Purnell.

Mr Hutton is a prominent Blairite but denied that his resignation was for anything other than personal reasons and said that he is standing down at the next election. He was critical of Mr Purnell, whom he called a good friend, for his decision to rebel.

But whereas Mr Purnell had used his resignation letter to call for Mr Brown to stand down for the good of the party, Mr Hutton, promoted to the defence portfolio last October, insisted that he was still backing the Prime Minister but had decided to step down as an MP at the next election.

"My decision is a personal one," Mr Hutton said. "I am absolutely committed to supporting Gordon as Prime Minister and doing everything I can to get a Labour Government elected at the next election."

In other moves, John Denham, the Universities Secretary, replaces Ms Blears as as Communities Secretary and Peter Hain returns to the Cabinet as Welsh Secretary.

Tipped for promotion were the Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward, Douglas Alexander, currently at International Development, and the Cabinet Office minister Liam Byrne.

Caroline Flint, the Europe Minister who was one of the first to go public with criticism of Mr Purnell’s resignation, may win a full Cabinet post even though she is considered a friend and ally of both Ms Smith and Ms Blears.

The most eye-catching move is the appoint of Sir Alan Sugar as the Government's official enterprise champion. It emerged this morning that the East End entrepreneur and TV personality, seen in Downing Street yesterday, will be offered a seat in the Lords.

Sir Alan said that he could not take on a ministerial role, setting policy, but said the civil servants the Department of Business needed his advice as someone who understood the needs of small and medium-sized businesses and had "worn the T-shirt".

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