A radical departure
by Richard Reeves
James Purnell has put the final stake into Gordon Brown’s heart. There is no recovering from this. The manner of the departure is gracious; more in sorrow than anger. It is clear that Brown can no longer command the authority of his cabinet, his party or the country.
Purnell is a radical. He has recently argued that Labour should be pursuing ‘power egalitarianism’. In the end, he believes that power should lie with the people not institutions. And he has now taken the most important step of his political career. This is his own most powerful moment. The Labour Party will not thank him tonight perhaps. But they should thank him in the end. His action may save the party from eclipse.
Julian Dobson
The 'final stake'? I think there are a few twists to this tale still to come.
Gerard McAndrew
Brown is looking after Brown, despite the electors verdict, any honourable man would resign with dignity - Brown has no honour and will have to be removed before this country can begin to recover from the deceit and lies surrounding this decadent government.
David Miscarriage
Purnell is little more than a rat, deserting the sinking ship. By resigning now with this message he seeks to lead the way with the attacks on Brown, a rather snide ploy to gain a little glory for himself.
A man who proposes charging 26.8% on emergency loans to the poor and unemployed, avoids paying capital gains tax on property sales and is one of this country's more expensive ministers as revealed by the expenses scandal cares little about the people except when he's grinding their faces into the ground with the heel of his shoe.