BREAKING: James Purnell "resigns"
Peter Hoskin 9:57pmThe BBC reports. This is big. More soon.
UPDATE: Nick Robinson says that Purnell wants to force a leadership batle, and calls on Brown to stand down. Tomorrow's Sun and Times carry his resignation letter. Apparently, Purnell "isn't seeking the leadership". The quotes that Robinson read out make this sound like a bit of a Howe moment
UPDATE 2: Just to catch up with some other stories: Flint is staying, and it sounds as though Darling is digging his heels in over the Chancellorship.
UPDATE 3: Over at Comment Central, Danny Finkelstein and Philip Collins chat about the Purnell resignation. They've clearly read the letter early, and this point by Finkelstein is worth pulling out:
UPDATE 4, 2213: Fraser's on Sky giving his take on all this."...that is where Purnell's letter is very smart. He makes it plain he has no leadership ambitions and that he is not acting with others. That's very important and heads off the factional [Blairite vs Brownite] fight argument [that Brown may try to deploy]. I don't think this argument will run.I'm sure Brown will try it but there are both too few Blairites to make a real plot and too many other people who know that what James Purnell has said is true."
UPDATE 5: The Sun's George Pascoe-Watson says that Purnell only told Brown in the last hour.
UPDATE 6: According to the Guardian's source, Purnell has been planning this for weeks:
"'He [Purnell] has made the decision in the last few weeks – he's always been very loyal and defended the prime minister, but he now feels he can no longer go out and defend the prime minister. That is why he has taken the difficult decision to resign'"
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Common Place
June 4th, 2009 10:04pm Report this commentAdam Boulton - Open Insurrection.
Mandelson in Mo 10 - first Lord PM since Salisbury?
Daniel
June 4th, 2009 10:09pm Report this commentI knew it!
signonnow@hotmail.co.uk
Work and pensions, obviously.
Thomas Nobbes
June 4th, 2009 10:10pm Report this commentHe should stay and do his bloody job. All they care about is their status, their party and "winning". They don't believe in anything!
Trevorsden
June 4th, 2009 10:11pm Report this commentPlease let Flint stay - she must be worth a shedful of votes every time the pompous odious woman appears on TV.
It would be too horrible to contemplate her doing the right thing.
Nick Kaplan
June 4th, 2009 10:11pm Report this commentPurnell is wise not to stand for the leadership. I would imagine he is playing the long game and looking to take over after whoever replaces Brown.
Shaun
June 4th, 2009 10:12pm Report this commentThis is it folks. General Election on the way.
Andrew
June 4th, 2009 10:13pm Report this commentExcept, of course, James Purnell wasn't actually present when the resignation letter was signed; his signature was photo-shopped in a couple of hours later...
Julianlzb87
June 4th, 2009 10:14pm Report this commentIt's about time the BBC
actually came up with some news.
Fred
June 4th, 2009 10:17pm Report this commentITV at 10 covered the breaking story better than the BBC, faster, and more accurately. Shame on you BBC.
Andy
June 4th, 2009 10:22pm Report this commentSomeone give Nokia a call....Brown's going to need a few new phones.
C
June 4th, 2009 10:24pm Report this commentIf an open leadership election occurs could we all be surprised by the outcome?
Common Place
June 4th, 2009 10:25pm Report this commentBrilliant. Giveaway clue. Well spotted Daniel.
Julianlzb87
June 4th, 2009 10:26pm Report this commentGreat film on Sky News of number 10
with nearly all the lights out.
Gordon getting on with the job?
Poor Sarah.
Nick Kaplan
June 4th, 2009 10:30pm Report this commentWho is on Question Time for the government this evening, I don't envy them!
Alison C
June 4th, 2009 10:33pm Report this commentIs Purnell the one who had himself photo-shopped into a hospital visit photo or something? Perhaps he's photo shopped himself onto the steps of No. 10?
TrevorsDen
June 4th, 2009 10:42pm Report this commentGreat relief - she (thats Elvira Mistress of the Dark) has given a loyalist interview.
Ann
June 4th, 2009 10:42pm Report this commentMeltdown Central. I love it.
dcg
June 4th, 2009 11:23pm Report this commentthis guy purnell is a traitor to the british people.it is only right that gordon brown remain prime minister.why should these guys decide who become prime minister and not the british people?
Andrew
June 4th, 2009 11:33pm Report this commentThe only way Gordon can keep power for more than a few days is to promote all his allies and then set an autumn date for an election asking for a new mandate from the British public. His mps would have to stop criticising him or risk total wipeout across the country.
Richard Lawson
June 4th, 2009 11:38pm Report this commentThe Brown is dead! Long live the Johnson, for he will bring democracy to the kingdom and save us from the Tory monster!
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