Has Purnell got the Welsh Secretary job as well? He is, after all, an expert at
being in two places at once.
Good one Oscar. I wonder if Purnell will be very pleased by this 'promotion', or whether he's been persuaded to take one for the team. The DWP is second only to the Home Office in being a department full of pitfalls. I certainly know which job would be more enjoyable. But if you're an ambitious young Cabinet Minister you have to regard it as a stepping stone to one of the really big jobs.
10 comments:
Thanks for the hat tip Iain. Apparently Purnell hasn't got Welsh Secretary. Mini-reshuffle on the way?
Shame, really as he was shaping up to be a very good arts minister.
Oh come on now Dale.
You are turning in Guido ( Please dont ). He behaves like a idiot.
You however are a serious political blogger.
But the photo thing... pretty poor effort, did you do that all by yourself...ahh bless.
Interesting to see Burnham running his own department after weeks of such speculation. Apparently Brown has marked him out as one of the "good 'uns" due to his hard work ethic whilst serving as chief secretary to the Treasury. A Miliband-stopper when Labour look for a new leader after the next General, perhaps?
...and the arrival of Yvette Cooper-Balls as Burnham's replacement at the Treasury must surely confirm what we all thought: Ed Balls and his wife are firmly in control of enforcing Brown's financial plans, even if Darling isn't.
Jimbo - Everyone knows that trust in politicians is not only a top priority with the public but something Gordon Brown staked his reputation on when he took over last June. Mr Purnell's little deception (still unclear who exactly was responsible) means there is a lurking question mark about his trustworthiness. After the Hain debacle the possibility of another flakey cabinet member is a matter of genuine concern.
Odd timing for Purnell to leave DCMS, lots of work/crises in progress. Poor Andy Burnham - 2012 budget is soaring, Arts Council funding furore and Purnell lit the fuse paper by suggesting that the licence fee should be top sliced to help cash strapped commercial rivals fulfil their public service broadcasting commitments.
BBC claiming Paul Murphy is back as Welsh Secretary. He's a decent sort, but not exactly a sign of fresh thinking by Gord.
Purnell was (junior) Pensions Minister before and made a reasonable fist of it. So whether he is pleased probably depends on whether he enjoyed the subject then or not - but it's a fair reason for Brown to move him there. Frankly it's a much more serious job than "Culture" and he doesn't have to pretend he's enthusiastic about the Olympics, which must be a relief.
The photo thing was a good bit of fun but, come on, people can't be serious that it should be career limiting. Writing as a card carrying Tory, Purnell strikes me one of the more capable Labour people, and that's not only because I met him a few times 10 or 12 years ago in another life. Because if you had told me then that he was the future youngest ever Labour Cabinet Minister I would have been surprised.
The photo thing was a good bit of fun but, come on, people can't be serious that it should be career limiting.
Far from being a career breaker an economical relationship with the truth seems to be a career maker in this cabinet.
I have a review of James Purnell's time as head of the DCMS from a view from his home constituency in Stalybridge and Hyde.
Post a Comment