LONDON: British Prime Minister Gordon Brown backed down from replacing his finance minister on Friday in a bid to hold his government together and end a political crisis.

There was some relief, however, from news that finance minister Alistair Darling was to remain in his job, offering continuity in what is the most important political portfolio for markets.

Media reports said Brown had given up on a plan to replace Darling with his close ally Ed Balls after Darling refused to move. Darling has won praise for his efforts to pull Britain out of its deepest recession since World War II.