Rudd backers face cabinet axe JULIA Gillard is likely to rid her cabinet of Kevin Rudd backers after she saw off yet another attempt by the former prime minister to regain the leadership. Mr Rudd failed to even challenge at an extraordinary caucus meeting on Thursday that Ms Gillard called after weeks of leadership speculation, topped off with senior MP Simon Crean declaring his support for Mr Rudd and urging the prime minister to spill the leadership positions. Ms Gillard sacked Mr Crean just before question time, and other Rudd supporters - including parliamentary secretary Richard Marles - gave up their positions in the aftermath of the vote. The prime minister says she expects a number of her cabinet members will be considering their positions following the leadership spill. Key Rudd supporters in the cabinet include Tertiary Minister Chris Bowen and Human Services Minister Kim Carr. Transport Minister Anthony Albanese backed Mr Rudd last time, while Foreign Minister Bob Carr and Ageing Minister Mark Butler have been named as Rudd supporters - although they publicly backed Ms Gillard. Mr Bowen reportedly resigned from the ministry on Friday morning. "I anticipate there will be a few more people considering their position," she told ABC radio in Melbourne. She said "a bit surprised, given all the build up, that Kevin didn't stand." But having chosen not to stand, that does underline that this is all definitely over. Mr Rudd, who was appointed foreign minister after Ms Gillard rolled him in 2010, won't be invited back to the front bench. "He will be serving in his capacity as the local member for Griffith ... he'll be doing all those things as a Labor backbencher," Ms Gillard told 2Day FM. Deputy Prime Minister Wayne Swan said caucus had shown "strong and enduring support" for Ms Gillard. "The fact is that there was very strong support in the room and the reason there wasn't a ballot was that there wasn't strong support for change," Mr Swan told ABC radio on Friday. But the opposition will test the government's numbers when parliament resumes on May 14, the day Treasurer Wayne Swan hands down the budget. Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said on Friday that a federal election was the only resolution to the government's leadership battle. "We are no closer to strong and stable government," he told the Nine Network on Friday. The opposition has called on the independents and Greens MP Adam Bandt to support the motion. Opposition leader of the house Christopher Pyne said the no confidence motion would be put on the notice paper for debate on budget day. "If that no confidence motion is passed, the government will fall and an election will be called within in weeks," he told Nine. Independent Tony Windsor said he would support the opposition putting forward the motion, but would not say if he would vote for it. Mr Rudd did not appear on the Seven Network's Sunrise program for his normal Friday morning spot with shadow treasurer Joe Hockey. Mr Rudd is scheduled to appear on The Contrarians program on Sky News at 4pm (AEDT) on Friday.