Purnell to replace Hain as pensions secretary

Purnell takes over Department of Work and Pensions

Thursday, 24, Jan 2008 12:00

James Purnell has been named the new work and pensions secretary.

He will leave the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to take over from Peter Hain, who resigned this afternoon.

The Electoral Commission said today it had referred Mr Hain's failure to declare £103,000 in donations to the Metropolitan police.

Mr Hain resigned immediately afterwards "to give myself the time and opportunity to clear my name".

Andy Burnham, presently chief secretary to the Treasury, will take over from Mr Purnell as culture secretary.

Brown-ally Yvette Cooper will move to the Treasury, while she will be replaced by employment minister Caroline Flint as housing minister.

Paul Murphy has reportedly been asked to return as secretary of state for Wales, a post he held prior to Mr Hain.

Mr Purnell said he was honoured to accept the position and continue Mr Hain's work on welfare reform.

Shadow work and pensions secretary Chris Graylings has congratulated his new counterpart, but said he will need to "get a grip" on the department.

Mr Purnell has experience as a pensions minister and previously worked for the Institute for Public Policy Research, the BBC and Downing Street before being elected to parliament.

The 37-year-old MP for Stalbridge and Hyde has remained relatively unscathed during the turbulent first six months of the Brown government.

He was briefly drawn into a minor scandal in September when it emerged he had been 'photoshopped' into a publicity photo for Tameside general hospital in Manchester.