CULTURE Secretary James Purnell – at the centre of a “fake” picture storm - was today facing pressure over his Cabinet job.

Publicity chiefs at Tameside Hospital issued a photo showing the MP for Stalybridge and Hyde standing with other MPs outside the hospital to launch a £112 million rebuilding project.

Mr Purnell was not present when the group picture was taken and his mage was added later by the hospital.

The hospital's publicity officer says the minister, who had been late for the event, had 'consented' for their photographer to take a separate snap of him at the same spot and then merge his image with the group shot using a computer.

But a spokesman for the minister said: "He had his photo taken by himself. He thought they would use the photo alongside the other one.

"In no way did James say 'Just add me in so it looks like I was there'."

She added: "The (hospital) trust thought they were doing something nice. There is no division between James and the hospital." 

The fake picture was sent out to the media including the M.E.N.and was printed yesterday in one weekly newspaper.

Last night Mr Purnell - who has a key role influencing government policy on the media and has lectured broadcasters on faking TV shows - said the photograph had been the result of a “misunderstanding” and said he would not consider resigning over the issue.

He thought the picture was going to be used by the NHS internally and that it would be clear he was not part of the group picture.

Shadow Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt called for an apology and said the row made Mr Purnell's position untenable.

Mr Hunt said: “Here is cast-iron proof that Labour Ministers are quite happy to *fake it' if they think they can get away with it. He must now make a public apology at the very least.”

Mr Purnell, at 37 the youngest Cabinet member, was one of four MPs invited to Tameside Hospital to lend publicity to a government approval for a £112 million redevelopment project.

He was 20 minutes late for the photoshoot with two hospital chiefs and fellow MPs David Heyes, Andrew Gwynne and Tom Levitt and the picture was taken without him.

A spokesman for Tameside Hospital said: “Unfortunately, due to his hectic ministerial schedule James Purnell was late for the photo-shoot, and arrived shortly after the other MPs had to leave.

“All the MPs had gone to great efforts to show their support, and as we would not be able to stage a repeat of this historic day for the hospital, we decided to take a photograph of Mr Purnell in the same spot very shortly after, and merge it with the earlier photograph, to which Mr Purnell kindly consented.

“We apologise if anyone feels misled by this."

* James Purnell became involved with the Labour hierarchy while still at Oxford University in the late 1980s, spending his summer holidays working as a researcher for Tony Blair.

He has enjoyed a fast-track political career ever since and after a spell working for the BBC and he was appointed a special advisor to Mr Blair following his election to Number 10 Downing Street in 1997.

Mr Purnell joined the House of Commons himself at the age of 31 when he was elected MP for Stalybridge and Hyde in 2001.

Now aged 37, he became the youngest member of the Cabinet when Gordon Brown appointed him Culture Secretary in June this year.

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