Chief Secretary to the Treasury Yvette Cooper (L) watches as Alistair Darling poses for pictures with the 2009 budget
By Leon Neal
Britain's Chief Secretary to the Treasury Yvette Cooper (L) watches as Finance Minister Alistair Darling poses for pictures with a briefcase containing the 2009 budget in April. The government of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown was bracing for a bloodbath on the eve of local and European elections, after a string of resignations upped the pressure on the embattled premier.