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James Mark Dakin Purnell (born 2 March 1970, London) is a politician in the United Kingdom. He is Labour Party member of Parliament for Stalybridge and Hyde, first being elected at the 2001 general election. He was educated at Balliol College, Oxford.

In 2004, in the government changes following the resignation of David Blunkett, he was appointed an Assistant Government Whip. Following the Labour Party's third successive General Election victory in 2005, he was appointed to the position of Minister (Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State) for Media and Tourism (covering broadcasting, creative industries, tourism and licensing) in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. He was the minister in charge of seeing through the legislation that liberalised England and Wales' alcohol licensing laws. Before entering Parliament, he had for many years worked as a special advisor to Number 10.

James Purnell is a leading member of the new generation of Labour MPs, often referred to as the "Primrose Hill Gang". Other prominent members include the Miliband brothers, Ed and David, Douglas Alexander, Ed Balls and Pat McFadden. Despite being a leading Blairite, Purnell is popular amongst supporters of Gordon Brown too, and his pre-ministerial CV includes a stint as a PPS at the Treasury.

External links

• James Purnell MP official site
• Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: James Purnell MP
• TheyWorkForYou.com - James Purnell MP
• The Guardian - Purnell's progress

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