Early life
Purnell was born in theMember of Parliament
Purnell was selected as the Labour candidate for the seat of Stalybridge and Hyde in 2001, and won the seat in that year's general election with a majority of 8,859. While a Labour MP, he was a member of theIn government
In 2003, Purnell becameFaked photograph
In September 2007Interest on crisis loans proposal
In December 2008, Purnell proposed charging interest on crisis loans to the unemployed and pensioners made by theExpenses scandal
Purnell was one of many MPs involved in political difficulties following the revelations of the 2009 expenses scandal. He told the parliamentary authorities that his main home was in Manchester and claimed the "second home" allowance for his flat in London. In October 2004, he sold his London flat but toldResignation from the Cabinet
On 4 June 2009, Purnell announced his resignation from the Cabinet, and called uponPost-parliamentary career
On 19 February 2010, Purnell announced he would be standing down as an MP later that year, saying "I have decided that I no longer wish to be an MP. I have spent all my working life in or about Westminster. And while this has been a huge privilege, I've realised I don't want to have spent all my life in frontline politics." He pointed to his work withBBC career
In February 2013 Purnell left the IPPR in order to rejoin the BBC as its Director of Strategy, on a salary of £295,000; he assumed this position on 20 March. As a senior BBC employee he had to resign his membership of the Labour Party. An Employment Tribunal for unfair dismissal was brought by the BBC's former Chief Technology Officer, John Linwood, when he lost his job in 2013 after the Corporation's £100m Digital Media Initiative failed. During the case an email from Purnell was cited in evidence, which read: "We need a clear line onReferences
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