Purnell abandons Brown
By politics.co.uk staff
Work and pensions secretary James Purnell is resigning from the government, handing Gordon Brown another crippling blow as the prime minister’s power slips away.
Mr Purnell’s decision, announced as polls closed in the local and European elections, is the third resignation from the Cabinet in as many days.
In his resignation letter, published by the Sun and the Times, Mr Purnell told the prime minister he believes “your continued leadership makes a Conservative victory more not less likely”.
“The party was here long before us, and we want it to be here long after we have gone. We must do the right thing by it,” he wrote.
“We need to show that we are prepared to fight to be a credible government and have the courage to offer an alternative future. I am therefore calling on you to stand aside to give our party a fighting chance of winning.”
Mr Purnell’s letter makes clear he is not seeking to replace Mr Brown, nor is his action coordinated with other plotters in Westminster.
“If the consensus is that you should continue, then I will support the government loyally from the backbenches. But I do believe that the question now needs to be put,” he concludes.
A Downing Street spokesman said: “The prime minister is disappointed by the resignation of James Purnell, of which he was informed shortly before 10pm.”
Rumours that Mr Purnell would leave the government first reached Labour backbenchers as early as yesterday, one Labour MP told politics.co.uk.
Europe minister Caroline Flint, who had been considered likely to resign this evening, is staying in the government.
There were early signs that Mr Brown may be able to stem the rebellion among his front bench, with reports foreign secretary David Miliband – a close friend of Mr Purnell and a potential future leadership contender – is not planning on stepping down.
Defence secretary John Hutton said: “I think he has made the wrong decision because I firmly believe that Gordon Brown is the right man to lead our party and our country.”
The move appears to have forced Mr Brown’s hand and triggered an early reshuffle, expected later this morning.
