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 serve as 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 responsible for European affairs in the Foreign Office.

(Xinhua News Agency May 6, 2006)