David Blunkett

David Blunkett is a British Labour Party politician and was a Member of Parliament for Sheffield Brightside from 1987 to 2015. 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 he resigned after a scandal. 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.UK Parliament, Overseas visits, registered 5 December 2007, accessed 24 November 2008.
==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."Peter Oborne, Politicians and journalists are in a conspiracy against the public, The Spectator, 4-December-2004, Accessed 24-June-2009
==Work outside parliament==
In 2005, just weeks after his resignation as DWP secretary, Blunkett was signed by The Sun to write a weekly column. Blunkett was said to be close friends with Rebekah Brooks, the editor of The Sun at the time. Joe Lepper Blunkett boosts media profile by joining Sun as columnist Brand Republic, 30 November 2005, accessed 6 November 2014 
In 2007 Blunkett was hired by Entrust, a security firm who had registered their interest in the Labour Party's identity card scheme. The move brought great scepticism as during his time in the Cabinet Blunkett was one of the main figures pushing for the introduction of identity cards. At the time, his spokesman claimed Blunkett would be advising for the company overseas and not working in Britain. Gaby Insliff Blunkett is given job at identity card firm The Guardian, 25 March 2007, accessed 6 November 2014 
In 2011, Blunkett signed a contract with News International to advise them on social responsibility, originally receiving £25,000 for six months work. The contract was renewed, this time a twelve month contract with an annual wage of £49,500 for 14 or 15 days during the year. Blunkett has previous with News International, having been a victim of the phone hacking scandal and received around £300,000 in compensation from the company. Rupert Neate David Blunkett renews £49,500 contract as News International adviser The Guardian, 1 February 2012, accessed 6 November 2014 The Register of Members' Financial Interests: Part 1 Publications Parliament.uk, 13 January 2012, accessed 6 November 2014 
==Political donations==
Recorded by the Electoral Commission:
Date
Name of donor
Amount
Donated to
Subsidiary (parties only)
09/07/2008
David Blunkett MP
£5,000.00
Labour Party
Scottish Labour Party
30/11/2008
David Blunkett MP
£600.00
Labour Party
Sheffield Local Campaign Forum
	03/12/2008
David Blunkett MP
£1,847.71
Labour Party
Scottish Labour Party
30/06/2009
David Blunkett MP
£300.00
Labour Party
Sheffield Local Campaign Forum
01/06/2009
David Blunkett MP
£5,602.43
Labour Party
Central Party
04/09/2009
David Blunkett MP
£5,325.17
Labour Party
Central Party
01/09/2010
David Blunkett
£2,365.00
Labour Party
Sheffield Local Campaign Forum
30/06/2011
David Blunkett
£2,598.00
Labour Party
Sheffield Local Campaign Forum
01/09/2011
David Blunkett
£1,299.00	
Labour Party
Sheffield Local Campaign Forum
01/10/2011
David Blunkett
£1,299.00
Labour Party
Sheffield Local Campaign Forum
12/01/2012
 David Blunkett
£10,000.00
Labour Party
Central Party
01/03/2012
 David Blunkett
£1,599.00
Labour Party
Sheffield Local Campaign Forum
01/06/2012
 David Blunkett
£1,299.00
Labour Party
Sheffield Local Campaign Forum
28/09/2012
 David Blunkett
£2,299.00	
Labour Party
Sheffield Local Campaign Forum
17/07/2012
David Blunkett
£1,000.00
Labour Party
Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough CLP
03/07/2012
David Blunkett
£550.00
Labour Party
Central Party
04/10/2012
David Blunkett
£1,000.00
Labour Party
North East Derbyshire CLP
01/12/2012
David Blunkett
£1,299.00
Labour Party
Sheffield Local Campaign Forum
18/12/2012
David Blunkett
£5,000.00
Labour Party
Central Party
10/01/2013
David Blunkett
£10,000.00
Labour Party
Central Party
01/03/2013
David Blunkett
£1,299.00
Labour Party
Sheffield Local Campaign Forum
	01/06/2013
David Blunkett
£2,598.00
Labour Party
Sheffield Local Campaign Forum
01/09/2013
 David Blunkett
£1,299.00
Labour Party
Sheffield Local Campaign Forum
01/11/2013
 David Blunkett
£1,299.00
Labour Party
Sheffield Local Campaign Forum
04/03/2014
 David Blunkett
£13,939.00
Labour Party
Sheffield Local Campaign Forum
01/08/2014
 David Blunkett
£1,299.00
Labour Party
Sheffield Local Campaign Forum
02/09/2014
David Blunkett
£1,000.00
Labour Party
Redcar CLP
18/09/2014
David Blunkett
£1,000.00
Labour Party
Penistone and Stocksbridge CLP
01/06/2014
David Blunkett
£1,299.00
Labour Party
Sheffield Local Campaign Forum
	01/10/2014
David Blunkett
£1,299.00
Labour Party
Sheffield Local Campaign Forum
31/12/2014
David Blunkett
£1,345.68
Labour Party
Central Party
 Electoral Commission, Donation Search, accessed 9 March 2015 
==Affiliations==
*Entrust (http://www.entrust.com/)Gaby, Hinsliff, "Blunkett is given job identity firm," Guardian, 25 March 2007, accessed 24 November 2008. - IT security company. Approved by ACOBA subject to "two years after leaving office, he should not become personally involved in lobbying UK Ministers or officials on behalf of the company" The Advisory Committee on Business Appointments Ninth Report 2006-2008 Advisory Committee on Business Appointments, accessed 5 November 2014 
*Chairman of a commission on school transport,Eden, Richard, "Ambitious David Blunkett finds his fortune on the internet," Telegraph, 15 November 2008], accessed 24 November 2008. 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
*Director, HADAW Productions and Investments Ltd, June 2006. In May 2006 ACOBA approved the role saying, "take up forthwith"
*Chair of Commission on School Transport, July 2007. Approved by ACOBA who said, "take up forthwith"
==Contact, References and Resources==
===Contact===
==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.
==Notes and References==
Blunkett, David
Blunkett, David
Blunkett, David
Blunkett, David Blunkett, David
Blunkett, David
Blunkett, David