New chair of campaigning charity Empty Homes Agency

The chief executive of the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund is to become the new chair of campaigning charity the Empty Homes Agency. Andrew Purkis was previously secretary for public affairs to the Archbishop of Canterbury and director of rural conservation group the Campaign to Protect Rural England. He is also chair of campaigners Living Streets and a former chair of charity the Green Alliance. Purkis replaces Maggie Jones who has been selected as Labour's prospective parliamentary candidate in Blaenau Gwent.