The news that James Purnell MP is to stand down from his seat of Stalybridge and Hyde (majority 8,348) is sweeping the Westminster village and is interesting for what it shows about the post-election mindset of New Labour. Purnell had been thought of as a front runner for a Leadership challenge; young, articulate and ambitious. Clearly, he feels his ambitions no longer rest in leading the Party which has been in power for the last thirteen years. Perhaps he has had a better offer.
Purnell’s last big political moment came in the summer, playing a key role in the penultimate and highest profile of the numerous botched Labour Leadership coups. The fallout from his potentially fatal blow to the PM – a last minute post reshuffle resignation leaked to a newspaper - being mopped up on Brown’s behalf by Lord Mandelson.
Purnell’s credibility as a senior player slipped from that moment on. He may feel that it never recovered and that this may affect his chances of becoming Leader. He may feel that the way his colleagues crumbled in front of Mandelson leaving Brown in power means he doesn’t particularly care. Either way, he clearly feels that the post election scrap for power is not something he has the desire for. Will this be the case for other New Labour pretenders?
What is clear, is that other candidates such as Harriet Harman may well have moved that bit further to the top job.
