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The Guardian - UK

Business

Jim Waterson Media editor

Ex-BBC executive says he was blocked from board due to ‘Labour background’

James Purnell Boris Johnson Gordon Brown Dominic Cummings Emily Maitlis Tim Davie BBC Board

James Purnell outside the BBC’s Broadcasting House, London, in 2015 — James Purnell outside the BBC’s Broadcasting House, London, in 2015. Photograph: Rex/Shutterstock

A former BBC executive has claimed he was blocked from a top job at the broadcaster due to fears his background in Labour politics would anger Boris Johnson’s government.

James Purnell spent almost a decade at the BBC in a variety of executive roles, before leaving two years ago after the arrival of Tim Davie as director general. He had previously been an MP and served as a cabinet minister in Gordon Brown’s government.

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