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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| James Purnell to stand down as MP | James Purnell to stand down as MP |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Former cabinet minister James Purnell has announced he will leave Parliament at the general election. | Former cabinet minister James Purnell has announced he will leave Parliament at the general election. |
| The Stalybridge and Hyde MP said it was a "difficult decision", but added that he did not want to spend "all my life in frontline politics". | The Stalybridge and Hyde MP said it was a "difficult decision", but added that he did not want to spend "all my life in frontline politics". |
| Mr Purnell quit as work and pensions secretary after last year's local and European elections, calling for Gordon Brown to resign as prime minister. | |
| A former aide to Tony Blair, he previously served as culture secretary. | |
| 'Huge privilege' | 'Huge privilege' |
| Mr Purnell, who has been an MP since 2001, is also the director of the centre-left think-tank Demos. | |
| In a statement, the 39-year-old said: "I have been proud to represent the people of Stalybridge and Hyde. And this has been an extremely difficult decision to make. But I have decided that I no longer wish to be an MP. | |
| He has achieved a great deal and he will be a hard act to follow Peter Robinson, Stalybridge and Hyde Labour Party | He has achieved a great deal and he will be a hard act to follow Peter Robinson, Stalybridge and Hyde Labour Party |
| "I have spent all my working life in or about Westminster. And while this has been a huge privilege, I've realised I don't want to have spent all my life in frontline politics. | "I have spent all my working life in or about Westminster. And while this has been a huge privilege, I've realised I don't want to have spent all my life in frontline politics. |
| "I'm looking forward to completing my project at Demos. After that my hope is to contribute ideas to public service and to the Labour Party." | "I'm looking forward to completing my project at Demos. After that my hope is to contribute ideas to public service and to the Labour Party." |
| Mr Purnell, seen as a rising star in the government, surprised Westminster when he quit as work and pensions secretary after polls closed for the local and European elections last May. | Mr Purnell, seen as a rising star in the government, surprised Westminster when he quit as work and pensions secretary after polls closed for the local and European elections last May. |
| He called on Mr Brown to resign, saying his leadership of Labour made "a Conservative victory more, not less likely". | He called on Mr Brown to resign, saying his leadership of Labour made "a Conservative victory more, not less likely". |
| But Mr Purnell later said he hoped to be made to look a "complete idiot", with Labour winning the general election. | But Mr Purnell later said he hoped to be made to look a "complete idiot", with Labour winning the general election. |
| Peter Robinson, chairman of the Stalybridge and Hyde Constituency Labour Party, said: "Over the past nine years James has been an outstanding Member of Parliament, who has been instrumental in bringing many benefits to the people of Stalybridge and Hyde... | Peter Robinson, chairman of the Stalybridge and Hyde Constituency Labour Party, said: "Over the past nine years James has been an outstanding Member of Parliament, who has been instrumental in bringing many benefits to the people of Stalybridge and Hyde... |
| "We understand completely the reasons for James' resignation and we wish him every success in the future. | "We understand completely the reasons for James' resignation and we wish him every success in the future. |
| "His commitment and determination have been greatly valued by members of the local Labour Party, as well as in the wider constituency. | "His commitment and determination have been greatly valued by members of the local Labour Party, as well as in the wider constituency. |
| "He has achieved a great deal and he will be a hard act to follow." | "He has achieved a great deal and he will be a hard act to follow." |
| Mr Purnell was a researcher for Mr Blair from 1992 to 1994 and worked as head of corporate planning at the BBC from 1995 to 1997. |