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.
What do you think? Have your say.
Minister in fake photo row
September 29, 2007
Comments
Login or Register to comment
Fake politician Fake picture? "WHATS NEW."
They look like they're all fakes!
Perhaps Mr Purnell was away reconsidering his decision to go ahead with 24-hour pub opening times leading to the great explosion in city drunkenness violence and related hospital A@E admissions
Let’s not forget that it was while James Purnell was the responsible minister that 24-hour drinking was legalized with all the misery that has ensued.
According to the M.E.N. of 13 September, violent crimes linked to booze rocketed by almost 50 per cent in Manchester since 24-hour drinking laws were brought in.
Further information kindly provided by the M.E.N.:
Some 1,313 incidents were recorded by police between December last year and this July - compared to just 902 in the same period two years earlier before the licensing laws were reformed.
Perhaps he was helping out at his local A&E.
Birch the photographer! ;)
Dont worry his job is safe ? he wont loose his job the boys will rally around him .The gravy train wont stop for him,Look at Lord archer and all the other politicians they dont go short.
did they really think they could pull this off. They should know by now that all us mere mortals aren't that stupid. Look at the recent pictures of how lovely Rochdale was supposed to be until they got caught out. H ha serves them all right fake fake fake
How petty, Purnell had his photo taken and it was merged. Surely the point is, he agreed with what the Health Service/ Hospital`s views. Now the opposition are trying to make capital out of nothing, stupid stunts like this trying to get one over on the other parties. It is no wonder a good half of the population dont bother to vote for the fools.
So suprised !
If you consider that the total wage and expenses bill for the 4 MP's is over 800,000 GBPounds a year it would be a cheaper option to "fake" every photo. This was just such a "photo opertunity" and served the electorate not at all.
Memo to James Purnell: get a fiver out of petty cash and get yourself a tie!
What is all the fuss about? The photo was faked, not his support for the hospital redevelopment.
Lets cause a fuss about the things that really make a difference, like Tameside Council claiming all party support for the congestion charge when Tameside conservatives are strongly opposed (check the link on our website!!).
Does it really matter.He was 20 minutes late,so they air brushed him in.If he had no intention of being there that would have been different.
Some people have too much time on their hands! There are far more important things to worry about. Throw away the fake, say sorry, we all make mistakes, and get on with your job!
Who cares its a photo!!!!!!!!!!
think people need to get a grip!
I think I saw him on a balcony with Joseph Stalin once!
But then maybe I didn't.........
who cares? it's just a laughably poor piece of photoshopping. the hospital obviously wanted to give recognition to all 5 in a single picture, and this whole fuss becomes even more irrelevant as he was still physically present there just 20mins later, it's not like he was on the other side of the planet.
In all this, has anyone noticed that it is the Health Authority that have put the picture out- not the Labour Party?
Plenty of newspapers wouldn't have run a doctored picture if they had been made aware of it.
'Completely trivial'Tory press panicking at the commanding lead of labour in opinion polls clotching the straws.Jamen Purnell is one of most talented and promosing politician from North-West committted to the best health care for his consituents.
You can just picture them with their spin doctors talking about it 'don't worry, the plebs have memories like goldfish, this will be chip wrapper tomorrow'....
It's not that important really but it sort of gives a flavour of the people we have elcted to represent us, create law etc. If they are happy to be associated with this sort of minor dishonesty, what else are they prepared to be involved in that we don't hear about?
Why didn't they just say in the caption that he should have been there but wasn't due to being disorganised.
as us city fans would sing.
you are not, your not really here. you are not, your not really here!!
The real story is: Why is this story (which is as a result of the hospital) so big that it pushes the Burma protests to 2nd billing?
Even worse the M.E.N. do a poll on it!!
hilarious
Perhaps he will turn up at the correct time next time!!
These people are all cowboys anyway, Tamesides councillors and mps are useless. Tameside has got worse in the 34 years i have lived here. Not to mention the suspicious amount of listed buildings accidentally burning down over the years eg...stalybridge town hall, stalybridge bingo hall, Guide bridge train station and ashton market.
Im a bit of a photographer myself and it is a very poor attempt at pasting someone onto a photo, must be a council worker who did it!!!
why does an MP/councillors deceit surprise anyone=?