Bill Morris, the General Secretary of the Transport and General Workers' Union, said the resignations would be a "price worth paying" if they made the Prime Minister Tony Blair re-think some of his philosophies and lead to more recognition of issues such as workers' rights.

"If we were in the United States we would say it was the mid-term blues for the government," he told GMTV's Sunday programme.

"It is a half way point nearly and the government needs to refocus itself."

Mandelson: Borrowed money

He added: "If, at the end of the day, departures and resignations means that the government can refocus its philosophy, its ideology and its purpose - that is to say we want competitiveness but we want recognition of Labour as a caring government - then probably one or two resignations might be a price worth paying."

Just before Christmas, the former Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Mandelson stepped down after it was revealed that he had borrowed £373,000 for a mortgage from the Paymaster General Geoffrey Robinson before Labour came to power.

Mr Robinson's, who is being investigated by the Department of Trade and Industry, offered his resignation hours later.