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| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| James Purnell to stand down as MP | James Purnell to stand down as MP |
| (about 5 hours 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 MP for Stalybridge and Hyde, Greater Manchester, said it was a "difficult decision", but he did not want to spend all his life in politics. | The MP for Stalybridge and Hyde, Greater Manchester, said it was a "difficult decision", but he did not want to spend all his life in 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. | 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. |
| Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said he was "sad" about him going as an MP. | Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said he was "sad" about him going as an MP. |
| A former aide to Tony Blair, Mr Purnell has also served as culture secretary. | A former aide to Tony Blair, Mr Purnell has also served as culture secretary. |
| 'Huge privilege' | 'Huge privilege' |
| He has been an MP since 2001 and is currently leading a project on the future of the Left for the think-tank Demos. | He has been an MP since 2001 and is currently leading a project on the future of the Left for the 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. | 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. |
| ANALYSIS Louise Stewart, BBC political correspondent James Purnell was a rising star within the Labour party: an innovative thinker and committed politician with real ability. | ANALYSIS Louise Stewart, BBC political correspondent James Purnell was a rising star within the Labour party: an innovative thinker and committed politician with real ability. |
| He faced strong criticism when he tried to spark a leadership contest by quitting the cabinet and announcing it moments before the polls closed during the local and European elections. | He faced strong criticism when he tried to spark a leadership contest by quitting the cabinet and announcing it moments before the polls closed during the local and European elections. |
| Since then Mr Purnell is believed to have become increasingly disenchanted with life as an MP and his departure will be a further blow to the Labour leadership - seen as another vote of no confidence in Gordon Brown. | Since then Mr Purnell is believed to have become increasingly disenchanted with life as an MP and his departure will be a further blow to the Labour leadership - seen as another vote of no confidence in Gordon Brown. |
| The message seems to be that he sees no immediate future in politics for himself - or his party. | The message seems to be that he sees no immediate future in politics for himself - or his party. |
| It is also bad news for Foreign Secretary David Miliband who, it was expected, might have wanted his friend and ally by his side if he were to launch a bid for the Labour leadership in the event of defeat at the election. | It is also bad news for Foreign Secretary David Miliband who, it was expected, might have wanted his friend and ally by his side if he were to launch a bid for the Labour leadership in the event of defeat at the election. |
| "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." |
| Health Secretary Andy Burnham said Mr Purnell had made "an immense contribution to public and political life in this country". | |
| "James is a great friend of mine and a man of huge intellect and talent," he said. | |
| "He won't be completely lost to the Labour Party I'm sure, because he remains as committed to the party as he ever was. | |
| "I think he's obviously decided to pursue other options and I wish him well in whatever he chooses to do, but James is a great loss to frontline politics." | |
| Mr Purnell, once 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. | |
| 'Excellent minister' | |
| He called on Mr Brown to resign, saying his leadership of Labour made "a Conservative victory more, not less likely". | |
| Lord Mandelson told the BBC: "I'm very sad about James. He has been a very good member of our party and was an excellent minister. | Lord Mandelson told the BBC: "I'm very sad about James. He has been a very good member of our party and was an excellent minister. |
| "But I realise that, given his age, he is looking to his future and wondering what he wants to spend the rest of life doing, and has opted for a different life. | "But I realise that, given his age, he is looking to his future and wondering what he wants to spend the rest of life doing, and has opted for a different life. |
| "Politics and Parliament will be poorer for that and I regret his decision very much." | "Politics and Parliament will be poorer for that and I regret his decision very much." |
| 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. | 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. |
| The general election is expected to take place on 6 May. | The general election is expected to take place on 6 May. |