Purnell was selected as the Labour candidate for the seat of Stalybridge and Hyde in 2001, and won the seat in that year's general election with a majority of 8,859. The resignation brings to 5 the number of Gordon Browns team leaving his cabinet. His resignation last June -- agree with it or not -- was one of the few brave and clear acts among the many moves by the many rebels opposed to the status quo in Labour. Discover James Purnell's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. James has strategic, editorial and budgetary responsibility across the BBC's arts, children's, education, music and network radio output Former Cabinet minister James Purnell will stand down from Parliament at the general election, he announced today. One of Gordon Brown's closest allies has tonight that former Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell walked out of the Cabinet because of a mid-life crisis. A Downing Street spokesman told the BBC the prime minister was "disappointed by the resignation of James Purnell." UPDATE: Nick Robinson says that Purnell wants to force a leadership batle, and calls on Brown to stand down. I can reveal that James Purnell was offered education, which he turned down, and decided to resign because he couldn't go on continuing to go out ⦠James Purnell has, in the last two hours, announced his resignation from the Cabinet and calls upon Gordon Brown to step aside from the good of the Labour Party. In late September 2016, he was appointed as the BBC's Director of Radio, and took up his position in October that year, in addition to his other role as the BBC's Director of Strategy and Digital, a job he has held since March 2013. Forum Member. Learn How rich is He in this year and how He spends money? His resignation came only days after the resignations of Home Secretary Jacqui Smith , whose expenses had also caused controversy, and Communities Secretary Hazel Blears , who had also avoided paying capital gains tax on her property. The Prime Minister apparently took soundings from Mr Purnell as early as this afternoon and the good ship Brown (are ship metaphors being overdone?) James Mark Dakin Purnell (born 2 March 1970) is a British broadcasting executive and former Labour Party politician who served as Work and Pensions Secretary and Culture Secretary in the Brown Government from 2007 to 2009. James Purnell. James Purnell resignation: a bad week for the Labour Party. Purnell resignation leads papers The papers again choose to focus on the prime minister's difficulties, this time with the resignation of a third cabinet minister, James Purnell. Stabbed in the back: James Purnell, behind Mr Brown, called for the PM to quit in his resignation letter (right) The Prime Minister promised an urgent overhaul of ⦠James Purnellâs resignation today, we are told, came as a surprise to Downing Street. I ⦠He has now come up with a proposal to let credit card companies take over the social fund & to start charging interest at up to 27% :eek: Even the Tories are appalled by this & many in the actual government are appalled by it also. Coming just as the polls closed in the European and English local elections, the Times says his call for the PM to quit struck "a devastating blow". December 20, 2017. in Media, News. James Mark Dakin Purnell (born 2 March 1970) is a British broadcasting government and former Labour Party politician who served as Work and Pensions Secretary and Culture Secretary within the Brown Government from 2007 to 2009. James Purnell, the work and pensions secretary, last night dealt a monumental blow to Gordon Brown's chances of holding onto office when he dramatically announced he was quitting the cabinet and asking Brown "to stand aside to give Labour a fighting chance of winning the next election". The BBC was engulfed in a holy war of words today after the head of religious programmes openly confessed to being â an ATHEIST. Comment at end 4th June, 2009 No sooner had the polls closed at 10:00pm tonight than James Purnell, the Work & Pensions Secretary⦠The Conservative leader David Cameron has called for an immediate general election following the resignation of a third member of the cabinet. Purnell's letter is due to be published on the front page of The Times tomorrow.In the last hour, many figures including David Miliband and John Hutton⦠This article is more than 11 years old. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has refused to step aside from his post after three more members of his cabinet quit in the face of a potential election meltdown for the Labour Party. Anonymous government sources said there was "no chance" the prime minister would resign. Gordon Brown was dealt a devastating blow last night as James Purnell quit the Cabinet and told him to stand down to save the Labour Party. Work and pensions secretary James Purnell has stepped down from the cabinet and told Gordon Brown to "stand aside". Purnell also claimed £247 for 3,000 fridge magnets. On 4 June 2009, Purnell announced his resignation from the Cabinet, and called upon Gordon Brown to resign as Prime Minister. was happy with the reply of the Work or Prisions Secretary. He said Mr Brown's focus over coming days would be "restructuring the government on the big challenges facing the country for the future." [17] His resignation came only days after the resignations of Home Secretary Jacqui Smith , whose expenses had also caused controversy, and Communities Secretary Hazel Blears , who had also avoided paying capital gains tax on her property. James Purnell Quits The Cabinet Posted on June 4, 2009 by Ted Pugh ( Telegraph ) â JAMES PURNELL , the Work and Pensions Secretary, has quit the Cabinet, saying he no longer has confidence in Gordon Brown and believes he should step down as Prime Minister. Dear Gordon We both love the Labour Party. Delight and incandescence as news of James Purnell's resignation breaks. A year and a half or so ago, in the early days of Purnell being touted as a possible leader, I asked him about it and he said, again with honesty, "I've got a decision to make" about whether he wanted that kind of personal reassurance and ⦠James Purnell. James Purnell was born on 2 March, 1970 in London, United Kingdom. BBC Director of Radio James Purnell stands down from £315,000 job to take up university role after being 'sidelined in leadership shake-up by director general Tim Davie' 190. Since I've looked at this saga from the perspective of ⦠This followed widespread criticism of Brown's performance and the resignation of Cabinet member James Purnell. James Purnell ⦠James Purnell. The prime minister is disappointed by the resignation of James Purnell, of which he was informed shortly before 10pm. ak001 Posts: 3,528. On 4 June 2009 Purnell, announced his resignation from the Cabinet, calling upon Gordon Brown to resign as Prime Minister. 190. News breaking from Westminster tonight is that work and pensions secretary James Purnell has resigned from the cabinet. While a Labour MP, he was a member of the Work and Pensions Select Committee in the House of Commons from 2001 to 2003, the Chair of the All-Party Group on Private Equity and Venture Capital between 2002 and 2003, and the Chair of Labour Friends of Israel from 2002 to 2004. Gordon Brown suffered another crippling blow last night when the Blairite Work and Pensions Secretary, James Purnell, resigned from the Government. Following is the text of Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnellâs resignation letter to Brown as published by The Times newspaperâs web site. On 4 June 2009 Purnell, announced his resignation from the Cabinet, calling upon Gordon Brown to resign as Prime Minister. 1994-1995: a Research Fellow at the Institute for Public Policy Researchon their media and communications project. James Purnell, the work and pensions secretary, last night dealt a monumental blow to Gordon Brown's chances of holding onto office when he ⦠REBEL MP James Purnell has been blasted by senior Labour colleagues after his shock resignation from the Cabinet. Apparently, Purnell Purnell quits and tells PM to stand aside. Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell called on the prime minister to stand down in a letter to national newspapers. Gordon Brown's authority as leader is now seriously questioned with ministers either refusing to move in his much criticized re-shuffle or resigning. Mr Purnell, Stalybridge and ⦠Purnellâs resignation was âclassic Jamesâ, says lobby journalist Posted on June 10, 2009 | Leave a comment In the next edition of PRWeek, out tomorrow, weâve taken a look back at the recent spate of ministerial resignations from a PR perspective. This article is more than 11 years old. John Hutton, Blairite, stands down from cabinet AND politics to spend more time with his family. Former Labour politician James Purnell, 50, who earns £315,000 a year at the BBC, is departing after seven years to become vice-chancellor of University of the Arts London. Home U.K. News Sports U.S. Showbiz James Purnell's resignation: what the ministers said Here is what Labour's ministers had to say about James Purnell's resignation from his post as work and pensions secretary: 05 June 2009 ⢠⦠Reynolds originally failed to make the shortlist for the Labour candidature, following the shock resignation of want-a-way, London-born MP, James Purnell. Purnell exit leaves PM on Death Row JAMES Purnellâs electrifying resignation has placed Gordon Brown on the political equivalent of Death Row. Tomorrow's Sun and Times carry his resignation letter. Purnellâs resignation was âclassic Jamesâ, says lobby journalist Posted on June 10, 2009 | Leave a comment In the next edition of PRWeek, out tomorrow, weâve taken a look back at the recent spate of ministerial resignations from a PR perspective. Also learn how He ⦠James Mark Dakin Purnell (born 2 March 1970) is a British broadcasting executive and former Labour Party politician who served as Work and Pensions Secretary and Culture Secretary in the Brown Government from 2007 to 2009. Senior Labour figures rallied round Gordon Brown last night after he was knifed in the back by Cabinet Minister James Purnell. In October 2016, he became BBC's Director of Radio, in addition to his other role as the BBC's Director of Strategy and Digital, a job he had held since March 2013. Labour âmust stop in-fightingâ The Right Honourable James Purnell; Secretary of State for Work and Pensions; In office 24 January 2008 â 4 June 2009: Purnell forces Mapp's resignation. 05 June 2009 ⢠9:00am. Jump to navigation Jump to search. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Purnell resignation letter. James Purnell's resignation from Gordon Brown's Government is the latest incident a bad week for the Labour Party. 20/12/08 - 23:05 in Politics #1. Here is a copy of his resignation ⦠Another day, another resignation, this time James Purnell.He didn't leave quite as stylishly as Blears but it was just as damaging. James Purnell must resign! Original Home Page All Contents of Site â Index UPDATE, 5th June: Another day another resignation. SPORT England boss Derek Mapp claimed today he had resigned from his post following a row with Culture Secretary James Purnell. James Mark Dakin Purnell (born 2 March 1970) is a British broadcasting executive and a former politician. The full text of work and pensions secretary James Purnell's letter of resignation to Gordon Brown: Dear Gordon,We both love the Labour Party.