James Purnell the work and pensions secretary, last night dealt a monumental blow to Gordon Brown’s chances of holding onto office when he dramatically announced he was quitting the cabinet and asking Brown “to stand aside to give Labour a fighting chance of winning the next election”.
His statement, in effect declaring Brown unelectable, will further weaken the prime minister’s waning authority and takes the challenge to his leadership to a dangerous level.
Purnell made his sensational move after polls closed in the local and European elections – in which Labour was subsequently decimated across the board, informing Brown by phone last night. It prompted a furious reaction in Number 10 with ministers saying Purnell was profoundly mistaken.
Brown had no inkling that Purnell was going to quit, since the work and pensions secretary shrouded his move in secrecy in order to prevent No 10 mounting a pre-emptive strike against him, or seeking to challenge his motives…
No 10 said it was disappointed Purnell had chosen to tell newspapers before telling the leader of the Labour party.
Any chance of kindly pinching that image in return for a link back?
Help yourself to the image. I’m on disability benefits myself so Ipswich Unemployed Action looks very interesting.
Thank you, I added a link back to your site as a gift for your generosity.
[...] to deusexmacintosh for the [...]