DavidBlunkett

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DavidBlunkett,(born6June1947)isbestknownasaBritishpoliticianandmorerecentlyacademic,havingrepresentedtheSheffieldBrightsideandHillsborough
constituencyfor28yearsthroughto7May2015whenhesteppeddownatthegeneralelection.[1]Blindsincebirth,andcomingfromapoorfamilyinoneofSheffield'smost
depriveddistricts,herosetobecomeEducationandEmploymentSecretary,HomeSecretaryandWorkandPensionsSecretaryinTonyBlair'sCabinetfollowingLabour's
victoryinthe1997generalelection.

TheRightHonourable

DavidBlunkett

HewaspromotedtobecomeHomeSecretaryfollowingthe2001generalelection,apositionhehelduntil2004,whenheresignedfollowinghighlypublicisedmattersrelatedto
hispersonallife.[2]Followingthe2005generalelection,hewasappointedSecretaryofStateforWorkandPensions,thoughheresignedfromthatrolelaterthatyearfollowinga
largeamountofmediacoveragerelatingtoexternalbusinessinterestsintheperiodwhenhedidnotholdacabinetpost.[3]TheCabinetSecretarySirGusO'Donnell(nowLord
O'Donnell)exoneratedhimentirelyfromanywrongdoinginhisletterof25November2005."[4]
On20June2014,BlunkettannouncedtohisconstituencypartythathewouldbestandingdownfromtheHouseofCommonsatthenextgeneralelectioninMay2015.The
editoroftherightwingTheSpectatormagazineFraserNelsoncommented,"Hewasneverunderbriefed,andnevershowedanysignofhisdisability...hewasoneofLabour's
verybestMPsandoneoftheveryfewpeopleinparliamentwhoselifeIwoulddescribeasinspirational."[5]RespondingtoaquestionfromBlunketton11March2015,Prime
MinisterDavidCameronsaid"AsanewBackBencher,Iwillneverforgetcomingtothisplacein2001and,inthelightoftheappallingterroristattacksthathadtakenplace
acrosstheworld,seeingthestrongleadershiphegaveontheimportanceofkeepingourcountrysafe.Heisaremarkablepolitician,aremarkableman."[6]
InMay2015heacceptedaprofessorialchairinPoliticsinPracticeattheUniversityofSheffield(in2014hewasinvitedtobeaFellowoftheAcademyofSocialSciences),and
inJune2015,agreedtochairtheUniversityofLaw(formerlytheCollegeOfLaw,alongstandinghighereducationinstituteprovidinglegaleducationandassociated
courses).[7][8]InadditiontohisotherworkwithcharitieshealsoagreedinJune2015tochairtheDavidRossMultiAcademyCharitableTrust.[9]
InAugust2015hewasawardedapeerageinthedissolutionhonourslists.[10]

SecretaryofStateforWorkandPensions
Inoffice
6May20052November2005
PrimeMinister TonyBlair
Precededby

AlanJohnson

Succeededby

JohnHutton

Contents
1Earlylife
2Localcouncil
3MemberofParliament
3.1EducationandEmploymentSecretary
3.2HomeSecretary
3.3Briefreturntothecabinet
3.4Backbenches
4Personallife
4.1Guidedogs
4.2Writings
4.3Speakingcareer
5Popularculturereferences
6Television
7References
8Bibliography
9Externallinks

HomeSecretary
Inoffice
8June200115December2004
PrimeMinister TonyBlair
Precededby

JackStraw

Succeededby

CharlesClarke

SecretaryofStateforEducationand
Employment
Inoffice
2May19978June2001
PrimeMinister TonyBlair
Precededby

GillianShephard

Succeededby

EstelleMorris (EducationandSkills)

ShadowSecretaryofStateforEducationand
Employment

Earlylife
Blunkettwasbornon6June1947atJessopHospital,Sheffield,SouthYorkshire,withimproperlydevelopedopticnervesduetoararegeneticdisorder.[11]Hegrewupinan
underprivilegedfamilyandin1959,heenduredafamilytragedywhenhisfatherwasgravelyinjuredinanindustrialaccidentinwhichhefellintoavatofboilingwaterwhileat
workasaforemanfortheEastMidlandsGasBoard,dyingamonthlater.Thisleftthesurvivingfamilyinpoverty,especiallysincetheboardrefusedtopaycompensationfor
twoyearsbecausehisfatherworkedpasttheretirementage,dyingatage67.

Inoffice
20October19942May1997
Leader

TonyBlair

Precededby

AnnTaylor

Succeededby

GillianShephard

ShadowSecretaryofStateforHealth

BlunkettwaseducatedatschoolsfortheblindinSheffieldandShrewsbury.[12]HewasneversentforassessmentattheSchoolfortheBlindinWorcester,andinsteadattended

Inoffice
18July199220October1994

theRoyalNationalCollegefortheBlindinShrewsbury.[13]Hewasapparentlytoldatschoolthatoneofhisfewoptionsinlifewastobecomealatheoperator.Nevertheless,he
wonaplaceattheUniversityofSheffield,wherehegainedaBAhonoursdegreeinPoliticalTheoryandInstitutionsoneofhislecturerswasBernardCrick,(laterProfessorSir
BernardCrick).[14]Heenteredlocalpoliticsongraduation,whilstgainingaPostGraduateCertificateinEducation(PGCE)fromHuddersfieldHollyBankCollegeof
Education.[15]Hespentatotalofsixyearsgoingtoeveningclassesanddayreleaseclassestogetthequalificationsneededtogotouniversity.[16]Heworkedasaclerktypist
between1967and1969andasalecturerinindustrialrelationsandpoliticsbetween1973and1981.

Localcouncil
In1970,attheageof22,BlunkettbecametheyoungestevercouncilloronSheffieldCityCouncilandinBritain,[15]beingelectedwhileamaturestudent.Heservedon
SheffieldCityCouncilfrom1970to1988,becomingLeaderfrom1980to1987andonSouthYorkshireCountyCouncilfrom1973to1977.Thiswasatimeofdeclinefor
Sheffield'ssteelindustry.TheConservativeMPforSheffieldHallam,SirIrvinePatnick,coinedthephrase"SocialistRepublicofSouthYorkshire"[17]todescribetheleftwing
politicsofitslocalgovernmentSheffieldwasdesignatedasanuclearfreezone.[18]BlunkettbecameknownastheleaderofoneofthefurthestleftoftheLabourcouncils.[19]
Blunkettwasoneofthefacesoftheprotestoverratecappingin1985whichsawseveralLabourcouncilsrefusetosetabudgetinaprotestagainstGovernmentpowersto
restraintheirspending.HebuiltupsupportwithintheLabourPartyduringhistimeasthecouncil'sleaderduringthe1980sandwaselectedtotheLabourParty'sNational
ExecutiveCommittee.

Leader

JohnSmith
MargaretBeckett (Acting)

Precededby

RobinCook

Succeededby

MargaretBeckett

MemberofParliament
forSheffieldBrightsideandHillsborough
SheffieldBrightside(19872010)

Inoffice
11June198730March2015
Precededby

JoanMaynard

Succeededby

HarryHarpham

LeaderoftheSheffieldCityCouncil
Inoffice
19801987

MemberofParliament
HavingunsuccessfullyfoughtSheffieldHallaminFebruary1974,atthe1987generalelectionhewaselectedMemberofParliament(MP)forSheffieldBrightsidewithalarge
majorityinasafeLabourseat.Hebecameapartyspokesmanonlocalgovernment,joinedtheshadowcabinetin1992asShadowHealthSecretaryandbecameShadow
EducationSecretaryin1994.[20]

EducationandEmploymentSecretary
AfterLabour'slandslidevictoryinthe1997generalelection,hebecameSecretaryofStateforEducationandEmployment,[20]thusbecomingBritain'sfirstblindcabinet
minister(HenryFawcett,husbandofsuffragistMillicentFawcett,hadbeenamemberofthePrivyCouncil,ofwhichtheCabinetistheexecutivecommittee,morethana
centurybefore).Theroleofeducationsecretarywasavitaloneinagovernmentwhoseprimeministerhadin1996describedhispriorityas"education,education,education"
andwhichhadmadereductionsinschoolclasssizesapledge.
AsSecretaryofState,Blunkettpursuedtoughpolicies,readytotakeontheteachingunionsanddeterminedtoensurebasicstandardsofliteracyandnumeracy.Hewas
rewardedwithextrafundingtocutclasssizes,andsubsequentlysince1997therehasbeenamassiveincreaseinliteracyandnumeracy,andthereare42,000moreteachersthan
in1997withdoubledspendingperpupilinfrontlineschools(andover100,000teachingassistants)throughto2010.[21]AkeypillarofBlunkett'sworkasEducationSecretary
wastheintroductionofSureStart,agovernmentprogrammewhichprovidesservicesforpreschoolchildrenandtheirfamilies.Itworkstobringtogetherearlyeducation,
childcare,healthandfamilysupport.In2011thegovernmenteffectivelystartedtheabolitionofSureStartbyliftingtheringfenceonearmarkedfundingandcuttingback
drasticallyonthefundsavailable.

Deputy

AlanBillings

Precededby

GeorgeWilson

Succeededby

CliveBetts
Personaldetails

Born

6June1947
Sheffield,England

Politicalparty Labour
Almamater

RoyalNationalCollegeforthe
Blind
UniversityofSheffield
HuddersfieldHollyBankCollege
ofEducation

Religion

Methodism

Blunkettalsoledthemassiveexpansioninhighereducation.HeprovidedlargescaleinvestmentinuniversitiesintheUK[22]andonerecentstudycoveringuptothedecadeof2013,showedthatuniversitiesarenoweducating
morethanonequartermorestudentsthantheydidpreviouslyandreceivingdoubletheincometheydid.[23]
Alsointhisposition,BlunkettlaunchedLearning&SkillsCouncils,createdJobCentrePlusandhadresponsibilityfortheEqualOpportunitiesCommission,aswellasestablishingtheDisabilityRightsCommission(asHome
SecretaryhewasalsoresponsiblefortheCommissiononRacialEqualityallthreeofthesebodieswereincorporatedlaterintotheEqualityandHumanRightsCommission).[24]
In1999,Blunkettproposedthatsexeducationshouldnotbepursueduntilchildrenhaveleftprimaryschoolat11,[25]reportedlyarguingthatchildhood,the"ageofinnocence",shouldnotbecompromisedby"graphic"sex
education.[26]In2000,whileattemptingtocooloppositiontotheproposedabolitionoftheLocalGovernmentAct1988'sSection28,heissuedguidelinesontheimportanceof'familyvalues'inteachingchildrensexeducation.
BlunkettintroducedtheteachingofCitizenshipinschoolsin1999,arguingthat"Wewanttoensurethatthere'sabasisoftraditionalknowledgethat'savailabletoallchildren."[27]Citizenshipeducationprovidespupilswiththe
knowledge,skillsandunderstandingtobecomeinformedcitizens,awareoftheirrights,dutiesandresponsibilities.

HomeSecretary
AtthestartoftheLabourgovernment'ssecondtermin2001,BlunkettwaspromotedtoHomeSecretary,[20]fulfillinganambitionofhis.ObserverssawhimasfuturePrimeMinister,andarivaltoChancelloroftheExchequer
GordonBrown'shopestosucceedBlair.[28][29]
BlunkettwasalmostimmediatelyfacedwithSeptember11attacksontheUSA.Hebroughtinnewantiterrorismmeasures,includingdetentionwithouttrialofsuspectforeignnationalswhocouldn'tbeextraditedordeported.It
causedabackbenchrebellionandprovokedstrongoppositionintheHouseofLords,andBlunkettmadeconcessionsoverincitementtoreligioushatred(latercarriedthroughbyhissuccessor)andtointroducea"sunset
clause".[30][31]
AsHomeSecretaryhewaspreparedtoconfrontthejudiciaryandthepolice,withproposalsforciviliancommunitypatrolsandchangestopoliceofficers'payandworkingconditions.Morethan7,000policedemonstrated
outsideParliamentin2002.
Alsoduringhisterminofficethemassiveupsurgeinasylumclaimswasreversed,theSangatterefugeecamponFrenchsoilwasclosed,andrefugeesnumberssubsequentlydroppedfrom110,000tolessthan30,000.Withan
additional15,000policeofficersand6,500CommunitySupportOfficersby2004,crimehadreachedanalltimelowwithovera40%dropfromtenyearsearlier.[32]
AcontroversialareaforBlunkettwascivilliberties,andhedescribedcivillibertarianismas"airyfairy".[33]AsEducationSecretary,hehadrepeatedlyexpressedtheintentionthat,werehetobecomeHomeSecretary,hewould
makethethenincumbentJackStraw,whohadbeencriticisedforbeinghardline,seemoverlyliberal.In2006,MartinNarey,theformerdirectorgeneraloftheprisonservice,claimedthatBlunketthadoncetoldhimtousethe
armyandmachineguns,todealwithriotingprisoners.Blunketthasdeniedtheseallegiations.[34]
Blunkettradicallyoverhauled'Victorian'sexoffenceslegislationin2002,whichmodernisedthesexoffenceslawsdramaticallyinrelationtosamesexandrelatedissuesbysweepingawaythearchaiclawsgoverning
homosexuality,whiletighteningprotectionsagainstrapists,paedophilesandothersexoffenders.[35]Theactclosedaloopholethathadallowedthoseaccusedofchildrapetoescapepunishmentbyarguingtheactwasconsensual
andanewoffenceofadultsexualactivitywithachild,whichcoversanysexactthattakesplacebetweenanadultandachildunder16,wasintroduced.ItwassupportedbyallmajorpoliticalpartiesintheUK.[36]
BlunkettresignedasHomeSecretaryon15December2004amidstallegationsthathehelpedfasttracktherenewalofaworkpermitforhisexlover'snanny.[37]MrBlunketthadin2003introducedforthefirsttimesubstantial
feesforvisaandworkpermitsandtheirrenewal.Asaconsequence,turnaroundtimesweretightenedandcustomerservicetargetsstrengthened.
TheaccusationsmadeagainsthiminNovember2004formedpartofanacrimoniouspublicconflictplayingoutintheFamilyCourtinrespectofcontestedContactandResponsibilityOrders[38]Clarityaboutthecircumstances
andeventsleadinguptoandsurroundinghisdepartureemergedinthephonehackingtrialof2013/14.On24June2014,theformereditoroftheNewsoftheWorldandHeadofCommunicationsforDavidCameronAndy
Coulson,wasfoundguiltyofachargeofconspiracytointerceptvoicemails(phonehacking).Blunkett'sevidenceprovedcentraltotheverdict.

Briefreturntothecabinet
Followingthe2005generalelectionBlunkettwasreturnedtothecabinetasSecretaryofStateforWorkandPensions,wherehefacedagrowingpensionscrisis.

TwoweeksbeforetheelectionBlunketttookupadirectorshipinacompanycalledDNABioscienceandbought15,000ofsharesinthecompany.Aftersustainedsnipingbyopponentsovera
sixmonthperiod,Blunkettwasaskedon31October2005toexplainwhyhehadnotconsultedtheAdvisoryCommitteeonBusinessAppointmentsregardingthedirectorship.Havingplacedthe
sharesintoanindependenttrust,[39]"MrBlunkettsaidhehadaskedhisthreegrownupsonsfromhisfirstmarriagetoauthorisetrusteesto"disposeof"theshares.Theyagreedtotherequest."
Thoughhewaslaterfullyexonerated,Blunkett'spoliticalopponentsclaimedthataconflictofinterestwascreatedbyhimhavingbeendirectorofandholdingsharesinacompanyproposingto
bidforgovernmentcontractstoprovidepaternityteststotheChildSupportAgency(CSA)partoftheDepartmentforWorkandPensions(DWP),ofwhichhewasSecretaryofState.
On2November,ascheduledappearancebeforeaHouseofCommonsSelectCommitteewascancelledatthelastminuteandBlunkettwassummonedtoameetingat10DowningStreet.Later
thatmorning,aspokesmanforPrimeMinisterTonyBlairconfirmedBlunketthadresignedatthemeeting,statingthathispositionhadbecomeuntenable.
Blunkettwaslaterfoundtohavenotbrokentheministerialcode.On25November2005,afterhehadresigned,SirGusO'DonnellwrotetoBlunkettconfirmingthattherewasnoconflictof
interest,nofailuretodeclareeitherBlunkett'sshareholdingorbriefbusinessconnectionwiththecompany.[4]O'Donnellwrote:
Blunkettin2009

"TheissueofshareholdingsandtrustsandthehandlingofprivateinterestsmoregenerallyisofcoursecoveredquiteextensivelyinSection5oftheMinisterialCode.Thereisnobanona
Minister,orhisorherimmediatefamilymembers,holdingsuchinterestsbutwheretheydotheMinistermustensurethatnoconflictarises,orappearstoarise,betweenhisorherpublicdutiesand

suchprivateinterests."
"Intermsofthehandlingofyourinterests,andthoseofyourfamily,youfollowedcorrectprocedureinnotifyingyourPermanentSecretaryofyourinterests.NeithertheDWPnortheCSAwereinanycontractualrelationship
withDNABioscience,andtheCSA'scontractforbiometrictestingwasnotduetoberenewedforsomeyears."[4]
SirGusODonnellalsoconfirmedthattheAdvisoryCommitteeonMinisterialAppointments,whichhadbeentheboneofcontentionuptothebeginningofNovember2005,wasinfactvoluntary.Thecodewaschangedin2007
tomakeclearthatreferencespriortotakingbusinessappointmentsshortlyafterleavinggovernmentwastobemandatoryaspartoftheministerialcode.
DespitehisresignationfromthecabinetinNovember,BlunkettinitiallykepthisministerialaccommodationinBelgravia,London,untilhefoundnewaccommodationfourmonthslater.[40]Healsorentsacottageontheestateof
ChatsworthHouse.[41]

Backbenches
BlunkettcontinuedtorepresenttheconstituencyofSheffieldBrightsideandHillsborough.
HeisaVicePresidentoftheRoyalNationalInstituteofBlindPeopleandavicepresidentoftheNationalAlzheimersSociety,andhascloselinkswitharangeofothercharities(localtoSheffieldandnationally)includingthose
relatingtosubstanceabuseandbreastcancer,andisaPatronoftheEmployersNetworkforEquality&Inclusion(enei).[42]HeisalsoalongstandingPatronofTheMicro&AnophthalmicChildren'sSocietytheUK'sonly
charitysupportingfamiliesofchildrenbornwithouteyesorwithunderdevelopedeyes.[43]HeisalsoaformerHonoraryChairoftheInformationSystemsSecurityAssociation(ISSAUK)AdvisoryBoardandwasuntilMarch
2015,ChairmanofthenotforprofitInternationalCyberSecurityProtectionAlliance(ICSPA).[44]
InOctober2010,Blunkettproposedthecreationofa'YorkshireParliament'givingautonomytothehistoriccountywithasimilarfundingformulatotheWelshAssembly'sdevolvedbudget,whichwouldentitleYorkshireto
annualbudgetofaround24Billion.[45]
Oneofhismaininterestsisvolunteeringandcommunityservice.In2011hepublishedapamphletcallingforaNationalVolunteerProgramme,[46]whichreceivedawiderangeofsupport,particularlyamongthirdsector
organisations.Sincethen,BlunketthascommencedputtingtogetherandbecomingafounderoftheFutureForYouthFoundation,whichsoughttotacklehighlevelsofunemploymentinyoungpeopleandwhichconcludedits
workinthesummerof2015.
Hewasakeyvoiceinthe'NotoAV'campaignin201011[47]andhasspokenoutagainsttheGovernment'sproposedboundarychanges.[48]
InSeptember2012hepublishedInDefenceofPoliticsRevisited,wherehesetoutarangeofproposalstoincreasefaithin,andimprovetheworkingof,democraticpolitics.Mostrecentlyhewasawardedstatusasan
AcademicianoftheAcademyofSocialSciences.InJuly2013,SheffieldUniversityannouncedBlunketthadbecomeaVisitingProfessorintheDepartmentofPolitics,intheworld'sfirstCentreforthePublicUnderstandingof
Politics.

HesitsontheboardoftheNationalCitizen'sServiceTrust,avoluntarycommunityserviceprogrammefor16and17yearolds.From2013to2014hechairedaparliamentaryinquirywiththeCharitiesAidFoundationintohow
givingtocharitiescouldbeboosted.ThisreportedinJune2014,makingrecommendationsrangingfromtheinclusionofasocialactionsectiononUCASformstothecreationofapostcareersadviceservice,forthosewhoare
retiringbutwishtocontinuegivingintheircommunity.
BetweenJune2013andMay2014,BlunkettledareviewintolocaloversightofschoolsandtheraisingofstandardsfortheleaderEdMilibandandtheShadowEducationSecretary.TheBlunkettReportwaspublishedinMay
2014,andcalledforthecreationofnewindependentDirectorsofSchoolStandardstooperatebetweenlocalauthorities.Thesedirectorswouldfocusonbringinggreatercoherencetotheprocessofschoolcreation,raising
standardsandimprovinglocalaccountability.
InApril2015,BlunkettpresentedawardsatLongleyParkSixthFormCollege.[49]

Personallife
Blunkettdivorcedhiswife,bywhomhehadthreesons,in1990.In2004theNewsoftheWorldrevealedathreeyearaffairwithaformerpublisheroftheSpectator,andthedisputedparentageoftheirthentwoyearoldchild.
Afterprolongedpressspeculation,DNAtestsshowedthatBlunkettwasthefather.[50]
In2005therewasmorespeculationaboutBlunkett'sprivatelife,thistimeregardingayoungwomanhemetatanexclusiveLondonnightclub,Annabel's.ThematterwasclearedupfollowingafullapologyfromThePeople
newspaperwhichprintedtheoriginalstoryinwhichthepaperacceptedthatthestorywasentirelyfalse.[51][52]
On27January2009,BlunkettannouncedthathewasengagedtobemarriedtoDrMargaretWilliams,adoctorinSheffield.[53]On3October2009theyweremarried.On6June2009,hewaswalkinginDerbyshireandwas
injuredbya"chargingcow",sufferingabrokenriband"painfulbruising".[54]

Guidedogs
Blunkett'sguidedogsRuby,Teddy,Offa,Lucy,SadieandmostrecentlyCosby[55][56][57][58]havebecomefamiliarcharactersintheHouseofCommons,usuallysleepingathisfeetonthefloorofthechamber,inspiring
occasionalwittycommentsfromBlunkettandhisfellowMPsonbothsidesofthehouse.Inonememorableincident,Lucy(ablackLabradorcurlycoatretrievercross)vomitedduringaspeechbyConservativememberDavid
Willetts.[59]OnoccasionswhenBlunkettwasguidedby(thenPrimeMinister)TonyBlairthewrycommenthasbeenmade:"whoisguidingwhom?"Anothertime,his(new)guidedogledhimtotheConservativeParty
benches.[60]

Writings
Mainarticle:TheBlunkettTapes
InOctober2006,DavidBlunkett'saudiodiarieswerepublishedinhisbookTheBlunkettTapes:MyLifeintheBearPit.Thetapesdetailhistimeasacabinetministeruntilthepresentdate,andprovideinsightsintotheworkings
oftheLabourcabinet.Theywererecordedeveryweek,andcontainhisviewofwhatwashappeninginCabinetatthetime,alongsidecontemporaryreflectionsandmorerecentthoughtsontheevents.
Healsopublishedalighthearteddogorientatedlookbackathislifesofar,inOnaClearDay,publishedbyMichaelO'MaraBooksin1995.[61]
BlunketthasalsocoauthoredanumberofpublicationsincludingBuildingfromtheBottom(http://digital.library.lse.ac.uk/objects/lse:tam398piy)(1982),publishedbytheFabianSociety,andDemocracyinCrisis(1987),
publishedbyHogarth,whichdescribedthebattlebetweenlocalandcentralgovernmentintheThatcheryears.Hehasalsocontributedchapterstomanybooksrelatingtopoliticsandsocialpolicyandhasalsoproducedresearch
paperswiththeUniversityofSheffield.Otherpublicationsinclude"LaddersOutofPoverty"in2006and"MutualAction,CommonPurpose"in2009(relatingtothevoluntarysector).[62][63]

Speakingcareer
OutsidepoliticsDavidBlunkettenjoysacareerasapopularconferenceandafterdinnerspeaker.HisbookingagencyJLAstatethathisspeechtopicsinclude"ThePoliticalLandscape,OvercomingAdversity,Social
ResponsibilityandDiversity."[64]DavidBlunketthasalsogivenlecturesandcontributedtodebatesattheInstituteofArtandIdeas.[65]DavidBlunkettisavailableforhireforeventsasguestlecturerorspeakerthroughavariety
ofdifferentagentsincludingJLAandSpeakersCorner[66][67]

Popularculturereferences
ThesatiristAlistairBeatonwrotethetelevisionfilmAVerySocialSecretary,forChannel4,whichwasscreenedinOctober2005.
Heappearsregularlybothonnewsandmagazineprogrammes,andhewasthesubjectofanepisodeofTheHouseIGrewupIn.[12][68]

Television
Blunketthasmademanyradioandtelevisionappearances.HetookpartinacelebrityversionofMastermind,wherehisspecialistsubjectwasHarryPotter.[69]
Hewasfeaturedonthechannelfivedocumentaryseries'Bangedup'in2008.Theshowfollowed10teenagerssenttoafakejailfor10daystoseeifitcouldchangetheircriminalways.Hewasinvolvedinvariousways,oneof
whichwasbeingonthepanelwhentheteenagerswereupforparole.Theprogrammedescribedhowrehabilitationratherthancustodycouldbearealoptionforthefuture
Blunkettappearedasacelebritychef,competingagainstGordonRamsay,onseason4episode4oftheBritishtelevisionseriesTheFWord.
HewasinterviewedaspartofArmandoIannucci'sexaminationofMilton'sParadiseLost,whichscreenedinMay2009.InitBlunkettspeculatesonhowMilton'sserviceinOliverCromwell'sgovernmentmighthaveaffected
hisbeliefsandjokinglyquotesthemediaassaying"He[Blunkett]isnoMilton."

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Blunkett,DavidJackson,Keith(1987).DemocracyinCrisis:TheTownHallsRespond.HogarthPress.ISBN9780701207779.
Blunkett,David(2001).PoliticsandProgress:RenewingDemocracyandaCivilSociety.Demos.ISBN9781842750247.
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Blunkett,David(16October2006).TheBlunkettTapes:Mylifeinthebearpit.Bloomsbury.ISBN9780747588238.
Minogue,Kenneth(2002).CivilSocietyandDavidBlunkett:LawyersVs.Politicians.Civitas.ISBN9781903386224.
Pollard,Stephen(14December2004).DavidBlunkett.Hodder&Stoughton.ISBN9780340825341.

Externallinks
DavidBlunkettMP(http://davidblunkett.typepad.com/rt_hon_david_blunkett_mp/)officialconstituencyblog
Profile(http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/mrdavidblunkett/395)atParliamentoftheUnitedKingdom
ContributionsinParliament(http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/people/mrdavidblunkett)atHansard18032005
CurrentsessioncontributionsinParliament(http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmhansrd/cmallfiles/mps/commons_hansard_4044_home.html)atHansard
Votingrecord(http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/mp.php?mpn=David_Blunkett)atPublicWhip
RecordinParliament(http://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/david_blunkett)atTheyWorkForYou
Profile(http://www.parliamentaryrecord.com/content/profiles/mp/DavidBlunkett/SheffieldBrightsideandHillsborough/56)atWestminsterParliamentaryRecord
Profile(http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/representatives/profiles/19497.stm)atBBCNewsDemocracyLive
Articlesauthored(http://journalisted.com/davidblunkett)atJournalisted
WorksbyoraboutDavidBlunkett(http://worldcat.org/identities/lccnn96107098)inlibraries(WorldCatcatalog)
DavidBlunkett(http://www.theguardian.com/politics/davidblunkett)collectednewsandcommentaryatTheGuardian
WhatisLabourfor?(http://www.lrb.co.uk/v27/n07/lanc01_.html),JohnLancaster,LondonReviewofBooks,31March2005,reviewofthebiographyDavidBlunkettbyStephenPollard
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"Ministerialconductandguidance"(http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130128101412/http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/content/ministerialconductandguidance)
Disclosureofnonsaleofshares(http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,171291867436,00.html)
ResignationasHomeSecretary
BBCNewsInDepthBlunkettResignation(http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/uk_politics/2004/blunkett_resigns/)
TextofDavidBlunkett'sresignationstatement(http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4099761.stm)
BuddReport(fasttrackingofvisa)(http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/21_12_04_budd.pdf)
MawerReport(inappropriateuseoftaxpayerfundedrailticket)(http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/21_12_04_blunkett_rail.pdf)
BritishHomeSecretaryquitsamidscandal(http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2004/12/15/britainblunkett041215.html)
Paternitybattle
"Blunkett'didnotfatherchild'"(http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4320827.stm)BBCNews

Politicaloffices
Precededby
GeorgeWilson

LeaderoftheSheffieldCityCouncil
19801987

Succeededby
CliveBetts

Precededby
GillianShephard

SecretaryofStateforEducationand
Employment
19972001

Succeededby
EstelleMorris
asSecretaryofStateforEducationandSkills

Precededby
JackStraw

HomeSecretary
20012004

Succeededby
CharlesClarke

Precededby
AlanJohnson

SecretaryofStateforWorkandPensions
2005

Succeededby
JohnHutton

ParliamentoftheUnitedKingdom
Precededby
JoanMaynard

MemberofParliament
forSheffieldBrightside
19872010

Constituencyabolished

Newconstituency

MemberofParliament
forSheffieldBrightsideandHillsborough
20102015

Succeededby
HarryHarpham

Partypoliticaloffices
Precededby
AnthonyClarke

ChairoftheLabourParty
19931994

Succeededby
DougHoyle

Retrievedfrom"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=David_Blunkett&oldid=682317138"
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MembersofthePrivyCounciloftheUnitedKingdom MembersoftheParliamentoftheUnitedKingdomforEnglishconstituencies PeoplefromSheffield PoliticsofSheffield
SecretariesofStatefortheHomeDepartment UKMPs198792 UKMPs199297 UKMPs19972001 UKMPs200105 UKMPs200510 UKMPs201015
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