David Blunkett

Former MP for Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough

[David Blunkett @LordBlunkett]

Roy Hattersley. Rest in Peace. My old sparring partner and then friend. Really pleased we were able to visit in May and talk about the Owls and crazy politics.

Much more to be said about a great political life and a very successful writer.

[ALASTAIR CAMPBELL @campbellclaret]

Amid all the justified and warm political tributes to Roy Hattersley his love of football and especially his lifelong support for Sheffield Wednesday was a huge part of who he was. He prided himself on how smartly he dressed for the match just in case (as often happened) the cameras panned in on him! This was an especially smart outfit!!!

[David Blunkett @LordBlunkett]

Calling on all Wednesday fans to give a tribute clap 2 minutes into this Saturday's game to 2 lifelong Owls supporters: Valda and Trevor Waterfield, both of whom died in St Luke’s Hospice recently.
2 minutes in, because this is about the two of them. With thanks.

[David Blunkett @LordBlunkett]

Time for everyone to take a deep breath and start thinking rationally. Been trying to tell whoever would listen that net migration would drop like a stone!

https://t.co/p5FVKirTKC

[David Blunkett @LordBlunkett]

https://t.co/jNrhK6BvhN

This has been an inevitable outcome of the mismanagement of Sheffield Wednesday for a very long period of time, and sadly has become the only way of moving on from the current disastrous, heartbreaking situation.

[David Blunkett @LordBlunkett]

Digital ID is a plan whose time has come.
To avoid the theft of our identify and to provide a deterrent to organised criminals, we need a properly safeguarded scheme. Learning from the experiment of 20 years ago, we can get this right whilst bringing Britain into the 21st Century

[David Blunkett @LordBlunkett]

Farewell to Frederick Forsyth. He and I had one thing in common. Both of us had a driving license taken out, without our knowledge, by the BBC (to show how lax verification was). Neither of us drove - in my case for an obvious reason!

[David Blunkett @LordBlunkett]

Today we've unveiled our credible and affordable plan to fix Yorkshire’s broken rail network.
This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to improve rail connectivity, and unlock economic growth and opportunities for all.
It's time to back Yorkshire.
https://t.co/j5Azan7QkU

[David Blunkett @LordBlunkett]

Millions unclaimed in Child Trust Funds.

[David Blunkett @LordBlunkett]

Taken today at 3:45pm in House of Lords. Watch it live here: https://t.co/LJQU8Lg1EJ

[David Blunkett @LordBlunkett]

https://t.co/czaav4T9vX
Congratulations to everyone, and my personal thanks to Bridget Phillipson, Jacqui Smith and officials for listening to myself and parliamentary colleagues, who have worked so hard. over such a long period of time. to get this right.

[David Blunkett @LordBlunkett]

Tribute to the late John Prescott.

It is often said that someone is a “once off”. But in John’s case, it was absolutely true. Tenacious, sometimes furious, always committed and totally loyal to the Labour cause.

Elements in our own background meant that sometimes we clashed like two stags locking horns, but always out of commitment to the cause to which we gave our lives.

Last time I saw John in person, he poked me in the chest with his stick, and we hugged.

He truly was a giant of modern politics and will be sorely missed.

[David Blunkett @LordBlunkett]

Let us hope that this is the start of “big P” Politics and an end to petty politics, which has been such a terrible diversion.

Best wishes to Morgan McSweeney and the team. So much depends on getting this right.

Spare a thought for Sue Gray who gave up a perfectly good job, had to manage through the waiting period in opposition and, as ever in these situations, receives little thanks.

All of this is a reflection of the worst aspects of public life which is so important to the maintenance of democracy and good governance.

https://t.co/gVjHbDgg0Y

[David Blunkett @LordBlunkett]

I am thinking today of the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives a year ago, and those taken hostage. A year on, let us pray for peace.

[David Blunkett @LordBlunkett]

Available to pre-order now.

Renowned educationalist whose work should not be forgotten.

[Crown House Publishing @CrownHousePub]

#UnfinishedBusiness: The life and legacy of Sir Tim Brighouse is coming very soon, and is currently available to pre-order: https://t.co/PLIXASQPFO

Listen to David Cameron discuss what we must do now to honour Tim's legacy: https://t.co/zlmcZZZAAI

[David Blunkett @LordBlunkett]

Just spoken at the SME4Labour roundtable at Labour Party Conference. Skills and employment vital. Know that Rachel will give us hope.

[David Blunkett @LordBlunkett]

Time to stop this damaging "insider" briefing from the Prime Minister's top team.

Unattributed attacks on Sue Gray help nobody, but give an awful impression on schoolboy politics. Those who blame Sue for "not being political", and brief in this way, demonstrate their own lack of "political nous". Sue is not responsible for political strategy, so blaming her is an unhelpful diversion.

https://t.co/E2lD7pLGS2

[David Blunkett @LordBlunkett]

https://t.co/xXPsyeYTmp

I am so very sorry that I underestimated the powerful, unelected and non-parliamentary forces which continue to be ranged against choice for post-16 young people across the country.
I am sad, not because I appear to have lost, but because of the tens of thousands of young people affected. Those who have campaigned so vigorously will not be the losers. It is the young people, whose options and choices will no longer exist. Perhaps, just perhaps, the limited review will save some options from September 2025. However, if the internal review itself is conducted by those who have already made their minds up, the outcome will be a foregone conclusion.

[David Blunkett @LordBlunkett]

See my contribution to yesterday's debate here:

[House of Lords @UKHouseofLords]

Live now: members debate justice and home affairs.

🔴 Watch live at the link in our bio
https://t.co/HFSfipf159