James Purnell becomes Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

James Purnell has been appointed Secretary of State for Work and Pensions following the resignation of Peter Hain.

Hain stood down from his post as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions following an investigation by police over his failure to declare £103,000 in campaign donations.

Purnell, 37, moves from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport where he was Secretary of State from June 2007. Before he joined the Cabinet, Purnell was Minister of State for pensions reform at the Department for Work and Pensions.