David Blunkett

David Blunkett     (politician)
Born	1947-06-06 Sheffield, England
Alma mater	Royal National College for the Blind, University of Sheffield
Religion	Methodism
Party	Labour
Home Secretary  In office 8 June 2001 - 15 December 2004 Preceded by Jack Straw Succeeded by Charles Clarke  Secretary of State for Work and Pensions  In office 6 May 2005 - 2 November 2005 Preceded by Alan Johnson Succeeded by John Hutton  Secretary of State for Education and Employment In office 2 May 1997 - 8 June 2001  Shadow Secretary of State for Education and Employment In office 20 October 1994 - 2 May 1997 Preceded by Ann Taylor  Shadow Secretary of State for Health  In office 18 July 1992 - 20 October 1994 Preceded by Robin Cook Succeeded by Margaret Beckett  Member of Parliament for Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough In office 11 June 1987 - 30 March 2015  Leader of the Sheffield City Council In office 1980 - 1987

David Blunkett is a British Labour Party politician and has been Member of Parliament for Sheffield Brightside since 1987. Blind since birth, and from a poor family, he became Education Secretary from 1997 to 2001, and then Home Secretary from 2001 to 2004, when David Blunkett resigned over a scandal involving Kimberly Fortier whom he met at a party given by PR and media guru Julia Hobsbawm.

Following the 2005 General Election he was appointed to the position of Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, but was again forced to resign on 2 November 2005 after a series of reports about his external business interests during his brief time outside the cabinet.

Foreign travel

25-30 November 2007, to Israel and Palestine with Labour Friends of Israel (LFI). Travel and hospitality paid for by LFI. Accommodation paid for by LFI at a rate discounted through the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Some hospitality provided by the Palestinian Legislative Council/Palestinian Authority. Travel within Israel/Palestine provided by LFI.

Media relationship

In August 2003 The Sun printed a full week of coverage dedicated to criticising asylum seekers. David Blunkett wrote an article for the paper supporting their stance. He said, "I am not in dispute with the Sun on this week’s coverage." According to journalist Peter Oborne the campaign was the result of a co-ordinated effort between The Sun and the Government. Oborne explains, "Sun readers never knew that Blunkett had quietly agreed to meet the paper and knew about the campaign before it had even started."

Affiliations

• Entrust (http://www.entrust.com/) - IT security company
• Chairman of a commission on school transport, First Group Limited (http://www.firstgroup.com/) - Travel company
• UC Group Limited. (http://www.uc.com/)
• A4e Limited (http://www.a4e.co.uk/About_Us.aspx) - Company focusing on design, development and delivery of front-line public services
• Labour Friends of Israel

Resources

• Eden, Richard, "Ambitious David Blunkett finds his fortune on the internet," Telegraph, 15 November 2008], accessed 24 November 2008.
• Hinsliff, Gaby, "Blunkett is given job identity firm," Guardian, 25 March 2007, accessed 24 November 2008.
• UK Parliament, Overseas visits, registered 5 December 2007, accessed 24 November 2008.
• Ungoed-Thomas, Jon, et al., "Revealed: how minister cashed in on contacts," The Sunday Times, 23 November 2008, accessed 24 November 2008.

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