First shots in a succession war for Purnell

Is today's Welfare Green paper the first shots in a leadership succession?.

James Purnell's media appearances in launching the document have been an exercise in slick poliical management and he has come across as a smooth and professional operator who is quick to defend the proposals.

If he becomes the minister that finally after many years of talk gets these on the statute book then it will increase his reputation many times over.

Although agreeing on the leadership posturingDavid Hughes certainly isn't so sure that they will reach the statute book.Writing on the Telegraph blog site he says that

it has to be seen in the context of the coming Labour leadership contest. This is Purnell setting out his moderniser's stall, safe in the knowledge he is not going to have to implement what would be reasonably radical changes to welfare policy which most Labour MPs simply will not wear

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