Former British Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Margaret Beckett(l), John Reid, formerly Defense Minister(m), and Jack Straw, the former Foreign Secretary(r)leave No. 10 Downing Street. British Prime Minister Tony Blair sacked his home secretary and shifted other key ministers in a ruthless cabinet reshuffle, one day after voters punished his scandal-hit Labour Party in local elections.(Xinhua/AFP)

    LONDON, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Britain's sex scandal-dogged Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott remains in post while Home Secretary Charles Clarke lost his job in a dramatic cabinet reshuffle on Friday.

    Prescott, who has been directly in charge of housing and urban development, has been tainted by his admission of an extramarital affair with a secretary 24 years his junior and two other women.

    Prescott, widely regarded as the number one casualty in the cabinet reshuffle, surprised many as he held his power in the cabinet.

    Clarke turned out to be biggest loser of the day when he lost his job as Home Secretary and returned to the backbenches after turning down series of other jobs in the government.

    John Reid, formerly Defense Minister, became Home Secretary replacing Clarke.

    Reid's position was taken over by Des Browne, who used to serveas Minister of State of Citizenship and Immigration at Home office.

    Jack Straw, the former Foreign Secretary, was appointed new leader of the House of Commons, and his position as Foreign Secretary was taken over by Magaret Beckett, leader of the House of Commons since May 2005.

    Geoff Hoon, who used to be Commons leader, is to be responsiblefor European affairs in the Foreign Office. Enditem