Purnell leaves licensing post

By John Harrington

- Last updated on GMT

Related tags Shaun woodward United kingdom

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James Purnell has left the post of Licensing Minister to be replaced by Shaun Woodward MP who is married to Sainsbury heiress Camilla Sainsbury and was once pilloried for employing a butler.

James Purnell has left the post of Licensing Minister in the cabinet re-shuffle.

He is to be replaced by Shaun Woodward, multi-millionaire MP for St. Helens, who joins from the Northern Ireland office.

I think Woodward was quite an influence behind proposals for the smoking ban in Northern Ireland, so he probably is familiar with a lot of the issues affecting pubs.​John Grogan, All Party Parliamentary Beer Group chairman.

Woodward, a former Tory MP and BBC Journalist who published a book on Esther Rantzen is famous for his marriage to Sainbury heiress Camilla Sainsbury and his reported use of a butler.

Speaking about his appointment he said: "Ten years of working in the broadcasting industry will undoubtedly help me both understand and promote the creative industries within Britain and across the world.

"This is a massively expanding part of the UK economy and represents a collective set of industries for which the Government must create a climate to enable further growth and expansion.

"Tourism is a vital part of the UK economy employing more than two million people. The tourism industry rightly wants Government to create a climate for further growth and promotion and I hope to be a vibrant champion in the months ahead."

All Party Parliamentary Beer Group chairman and fellow Labour MP John Grogan said: "I think [Woodward] was quite an influence behind proposals for the smoking ban in Northern Ireland, so he probably is familiar with a lot of the issues affecting pubs."

Tessa Jowell, Woodward's new boss, said: "I'm very pleased to welcome Shaun to DCMS. He arrives at an important time. I look forward to working with him on everything from digital switchover, to licensing, to keeping our film and music industries healthy and vibrant."

Purnell, who was recently implicated in a smear campaign which targeted Gordon Brown, is moving to the Department for Work and Pensions after just 12 months as Licensing Minster.

Jowell said: "I would like to thank James Purnell for all his work over the last year, particularly on successfully implementing the Licensing Act and playing a key role in shaping the White Paper on the future of the BBC. I wish him well in his new role."

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