James Purnell was a cabinet minister under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown

The likely next U.K. prime minister has chosen one of his oldest political allies in Westminster who helped him become an MP in 2001.

Decision is one of Makerfield MP’s most significant since his Westminster return as he builds his team for government

New PM’s likely chief of staff, James Purnell, runs lobbying firm whose clients include tech giants and water companies

James Purnell was a cabinet minister under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown

James Purnell quit Gordon Brown's Government in 2009, later becoming a senior executive at the BBC.

Appointment of James Purnell, former chief executive of Flint Global, described by one Labour MP as ‘very bad sign’

James Purnell and Andy Burnham entered Parliament together in their early thirties after the 2001 general election - representing seats in Greater Manchester - and even shared an…

In Westminster, it feels like the clock has rewound 20 years

Mr Burnham's spokesman has insisted they did due diligence on their new hire after eyebrows were raised about his relationship with Peter Mandelson.