James Purnell: Difference between revisions
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In 1996 Purnell was one of three [[London Borough of Islington|Islington]] councillors who were sued for libel by fellow Labour councillor [[Liz Davies]].<ref>[http://www.llb.labournet.org.uk/1996/july/lp5.html Liz libel latest], Labour Left Briefing, July 1996</ref> Davies had previously been selected as the Labour Party prospective parliamentary candidate for [[Leeds North East (UK Parliament constituency)|Leeds North East]], but the selection had been vetoed by the party's [[National Executive Committee]]. Part of the evidence to the NEC had centred around Davies' willingness to abide by the Labour Whip in Parliament, with reference to her time as a member of the Labour group in Islington. Liz Davies claimed that, in their evidence before the NEC, the three councillors had claimed she incited violence during a committee meeting. This led to an out-of-court settlement, under which the three apologised for the allegations they had made and made contributions to the general election campaign of the local MP, [[Jeremy Corbyn]]. |
In 1996 Purnell was one of three [[London Borough of Islington|Islington]] councillors who were sued for libel by fellow Labour councillor [[Liz Davies]].<ref>[http://www.llb.labournet.org.uk/1996/july/lp5.html Liz libel latest], Labour Left Briefing, July 1996</ref> Davies had previously been selected as the Labour Party prospective parliamentary candidate for [[Leeds North East (UK Parliament constituency)|Leeds North East]], but the selection had been vetoed by the party's [[National Executive Committee]]. Part of the evidence to the NEC had centred around Davies' willingness to abide by the Labour Whip in Parliament, with reference to her time as a member of the Labour group in Islington. Liz Davies claimed that, in their evidence before the NEC, the three councillors had claimed she incited violence during a committee meeting. This led to an out-of-court settlement, under which the three apologised for the allegations they had made and made contributions to the general election campaign of the local MP, [[Jeremy Corbyn]]. |
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In May 2006, Purnell auctioned off a signed copy of the [[Hutton Inquiry|Hutton Report]] signed by [[Alastair Campbell]]. [[Stewart Jackson]], a [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] MP complained over the insensitive nature of how the report was auctioned to raise funds for the Labour Party. |
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| ⚫ | In September 2007, a photograph of James Purnell was faked and released by the press office at Tameside General hospital as part of a press release for the Tameside Hospital PFI agreement. Despite claims that James Purnell had misled the public, there is no conclusive proof that he was aware of the photographer's intentions for the photographs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/newsnight/2007/11/your_download_and_keep_guide_to_the_james_purnell_fake_photo_non-scandal.html|title= |
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In January 2007, it was reported by the [[Daily Mail]] that James Purnell was given an "easy ride" in an interview with Jeremy Paxman on BBC's [[Newsnight]] because he was having a relationship with one of the producers, Thea Rogers. The BBC found no wrongdoing, while Purnell has also denied inappropriately using his government car. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.epolitix.com/latestnews/article-detail/newsarticle/bbcnbspclears-ministers-interview/|title=Your guide to the James Purnell fake photo non-scandal|publisher=[[BBC NEWS]]}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | In September 2007, a photograph of James Purnell was faked and released by the press office at Tameside General hospital as part of a press release for the Tameside Hospital PFI agreement. Despite claims that James Purnell had misled the public, there is no conclusive proof that he was aware of the photographer's intentions for the photographs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/newsnight/2007/11/your_download_and_keep_guide_to_the_james_purnell_fake_photo_non-scandal.html|title=BBC clears minister's interview|publisher=[[ePolitix]]}}</ref> |
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Prior to becoming a cabinet minister, Purnell has repeatedly been one of the most expensive MPs in the United Kingdom and being confirmed as the most expensive in Greater Manchester, with expenses in 2004 of more than £120,000.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tamesideadvertiser.co.uk/news/s/85/85231_mps_defend_120k_expenses.html|title=MPs defend £120k expenses}}</ref> |
Prior to becoming a cabinet minister, Purnell has repeatedly been one of the most expensive MPs in the United Kingdom and being confirmed as the most expensive in Greater Manchester, with expenses in 2004 of more than £120,000.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tamesideadvertiser.co.uk/news/s/85/85231_mps_defend_120k_expenses.html|title=MPs defend £120k expenses}}</ref> |
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==Personal life== |
==Personal life== |
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He |
He met his girlfriend Lucy Walker whilst he was at Oxford University, and although they were engaged at one time, this had been broken off by the time he was having his fling with Thea Rogers. He is apparently now back together with Lucy, who is an independent film-maker.<ref>{{cite news |title=Purnell's progress |url=http://politics.guardian.co.uk/interviews/story/0,,1490315,00.html |work=column |publisher=The Guardian |date=2005-05-23 |accessdate=2007-10-03}}</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 12:26, 29 May 2008
James Purnell | |
|---|---|
| Secretary of State for Work and Pensions | |
| Assumed office 24 January 2008 | |
| Prime Minister | Gordon Brown |
| Preceded by | Peter Hain |
| Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport | |
| In office 28 June 2007 – 24 January 2008 | |
| Prime Minister | Gordon Brown |
| Preceded by | Tessa Jowell |
| Succeeded by | Andy Burnham |
| Member of Parliament for Stalybridge and Hyde | |
| Assumed office 7 June 2001 | |
| Preceded by | Tom Pendry |
| Majority | 8,348 (24%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 2 March 1970 London, England |
| Political party | Labour |
| Profession | Politician |
| Website | www.jamespurnell.org.uk |
James Mark Dakin Purnell (born 2 March 1970, London) is a British politician and the current Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. He has been the Labour MP for Stalybridge and Hyde since the 2001 general election.
Early life
He received most of his education in France, returning to study his A Levels at the Royal Grammar School, and going on to gain a first in PPE at Balliol College, Oxford.
While still a student he worked in the summer holidays as a researcher to Tony Blair from 1989 to 1992. After graduating he worked as a Research Fellow at the Institute for Public Policy Research before moving to the BBC to become Head of Corporate Planning. In 1997 Purnell returned to work as a special advisor for the former Prime Minister Tony Blair until 2001. He also served as a board member of the Young Vic theatre.
Member of Parliament
Purnell was selected for the seat of Stalybridge and Hyde in 2001, and went on to win the election with a majority of 8,859. As a Labour Member of Parliament, he was a member of the Work and Pensions Select Committee in the House of Commons 2001-03, the Chair of the All Party Group on Private Equity and Venture Capital 2002-03, and the Chair of Labour Friends of Israel 2002-04.[1]
In government
In 2003 James became Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to Ruth Kelly in the Cabinet Office, and in December 2004 he joined the Government as a Whip in the government changes following the resignation of David Blunkett.
Following the Labour General Election victory in 2005, he was appointed to the position of Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Creative Industries and Tourism in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport where he was in charge of seeing through the legislation that liberalised England and Wales' alcohol licensing laws and modernized film industry tax breaks.
In May 2006 he was promoted to be Minister of State for Pensions in the Department for Work and Pensions, replacing Stephen Timms.
In 2007 he was named Consumer Champion Of The Year by Which? Magazine for his work on pensions. Which? Magazine cited his "commitment to consumers in the development of the national pensions saving scheme", particularly for listening to stakeholders and for his contributions to the personal accounts for low and middle earners.[2]
In June 2007, he was promoted to the Cabinet as the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, he is the youngest member of the current Cabinet.
He was appointed as Work and Pensions Secretary following the resignation of Peter Hain on 24 January 2008.
Controversies
In 1996 Purnell was one of three Islington councillors who were sued for libel by fellow Labour councillor Liz Davies.[3] Davies had previously been selected as the Labour Party prospective parliamentary candidate for Leeds North East, but the selection had been vetoed by the party's National Executive Committee. Part of the evidence to the NEC had centred around Davies' willingness to abide by the Labour Whip in Parliament, with reference to her time as a member of the Labour group in Islington. Liz Davies claimed that, in their evidence before the NEC, the three councillors had claimed she incited violence during a committee meeting. This led to an out-of-court settlement, under which the three apologised for the allegations they had made and made contributions to the general election campaign of the local MP, Jeremy Corbyn.
In May 2006, Purnell auctioned off a signed copy of the Hutton Report signed by Alastair Campbell. Stewart Jackson, a Conservative MP complained over the insensitive nature of how the report was auctioned to raise funds for the Labour Party.
In January 2007, it was reported by the Daily Mail that James Purnell was given an "easy ride" in an interview with Jeremy Paxman on BBC's Newsnight because he was having a relationship with one of the producers, Thea Rogers. The BBC found no wrongdoing, while Purnell has also denied inappropriately using his government car. [4]
In September 2007, a photograph of James Purnell was faked and released by the press office at Tameside General hospital as part of a press release for the Tameside Hospital PFI agreement. Despite claims that James Purnell had misled the public, there is no conclusive proof that he was aware of the photographer's intentions for the photographs.[5]
Prior to becoming a cabinet minister, Purnell has repeatedly been one of the most expensive MPs in the United Kingdom and being confirmed as the most expensive in Greater Manchester, with expenses in 2004 of more than £120,000.[6]
Personal life
He met his girlfriend Lucy Walker whilst he was at Oxford University, and although they were engaged at one time, this had been broken off by the time he was having his fling with Thea Rogers. He is apparently now back together with Lucy, who is an independent film-maker.[7]
References
- ^ Letters, Prospect, February 2005
- ^ "Which? awards for the best of the best revealed".
- ^ Liz libel latest, Labour Left Briefing, July 1996
- ^ "Your guide to the James Purnell fake photo non-scandal". BBC NEWS.
- ^ "BBC clears minister's interview". ePolitix.
- ^ "MPs defend £120k expenses".
- ^ "Purnell's progress". column. The Guardian. 2005-05-23. Retrieved 2007-10-03.
External links
- Official site
- Department for Work and Pensions - James Purnell's Pensions Reform blog
- The Guardian: Purnell's progress
- Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: James Purnell MP
- TheyWorkForYou.com - James Purnell MP
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 2007-2008 |
Succeeded by |
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