James Purnell
James Purnell | |
|---|---|
Purnell in 2021 | |
| Secretary of State for Work and Pensions | |
| In office 24 January 2008 – 4 June 2009 | |
| Prime Minister | Gordon Brown |
| Preceded by | Peter Hain |
| Succeeded by | Yvette Cooper |
| 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 |
| Minister of State for Pensions | |
| In office 5 May 2006 – 28 June 2007 | |
| Prime Minister | Tony Blair |
| Preceded by | Stephen Timms |
| Succeeded by | Mike O'Brien |
| Member of Parliament for Stalybridge and Hyde | |
| In office 7 June 2001 – 12 April 2010 | |
| Preceded by | Tom Pendry |
| Succeeded by | Jonathan Reynolds |
| Islington Borough Councillor for Canonbury East Ward | |
| In office 5 May 1994 – 12 October 1995 | |
| Succeeded by | Terence Herbert |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 2 March 1970 London, United Kingdom |
| Party | None |
| Other political affiliations | Labour (until 2013) |
| Alma mater | Balliol College, Oxford |
James Mark Dakin Purnell (born 2 March 1970) is a British former Labour Party politician who served as the Member of Parliament for Stalybridge and Hyde from 2001 to 2010 and also as a Cabinet minister from 2007 to 2009. After leaving parliament, Purnell was chair of Institute for Public Policy Research from 2010 to 2012 before joining the BBC as Director of Strategy from 2013 to 2016 and Director of Radio and Education from 2016 to 2020. In 2020 he was appointed vice-chancellor of University of the Arts London before leaving in 2024 to become CEO of Flint, a British international advisory business.
Purnell served as Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport from 2007 to 2008 and Secretary of State for Work and Pensions from 2008 to 2009. He resigned from the Government on 4 June 2009, criticising the leadership of Gordon Brown.