I remember, as a young teenager, I’d travel all over sheffield just for 2p. It was empowering and exciting. I wish the Sheffield youngsters could have the same opportunity nowadays.
As a constituency MP, David Blunkett never changed regardless of his other responsibilities. He always responded promptly, had time to meet and would do whatever was within his power to help. If he didn't think what you were asking for was a good idea, he would tell you why. And in the longer term, he turned out to be right. He still supports his old constituency and will always turn up to help when asked, most recently opening the newly refurbished Upper Wincobank schoolhouse.
Over time a lot of the detail gets lost, but it was significant that we did not have any race riots in Sheffield in the early 80s, when other major cities were in meltdown. David Blunkett, Richard Caborn, Clive Betts and Peter Price worked hard to make sure we didn't through the work they were doing. We had a major march against unemployment attended by thousands and that was it. Their anti-apartheid campaign widened the view of what was going on elsewhere.
Whatever the view of David Blunkett's political record, he's never changed in terms of his availability and willingness to help. He entered politics when people openly said that you couldn't have anyone with a disability in a position of power. But he's still there.
Maybe not, but that it how they were described at the time. Black youths clashing with police over their stop and search powers which disproportionately affected them. Plus the inner city deprivation levels left many cities divided along race lines.
I worked for Richard caborn at that time. I remember Richard getting some of the leaders of the skinheads(?) in the office. He talked to them and I believe - forgive me - it was a long time ago, Richard listened and talking to them may have contributed to the lack of riots in sheffield
Yes he always had the approach of working with everyone for the common good. I think it is much harder for politicians now because they've only got to get photographed with the 'wrong' person and their career can be over.
Very well written. Objective and informative. Personally, I regard SURE START as an inspired act of loving solidarity, and its cancellation an act of vandalism and arrogant inhumanity.
Two policies stand out from his Education Secretary days.
The Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) which supported those from a less wealthy background to stay on to do A levels. DB also actively supported the building of Longley 6th form college meaning that students didn't have to go to the west of the city to continue studying.
Sure Start was the other big policy. Sure Start children's centres helped to improve children's outcomes, providing support to local families by offering a wide range of services, and supported social integration and community cohesion. All those aspects were & are vital for children to thrive and fulfill their potential.
The Conservative-Lib Dem govt abolished the EMA on its first day in office. Sure Start died a death of a thousand cuts as local government bore the brunt of austerity.
Yes, sure start was such a good initiative. So sad it was cancelled; I’m sure it has cost more money, picking up the problems because of a lack of services.
Excellent article about a politician who both my wife and I have the highest regard for. Great to see that he is still active fighting for ordinary people of Sheffield and hopefully Tom Hunt will listen to David.
His achievements in the face of such an appalling disability and coming from such a modest background are truly admirable.
His lasting legacy for Sheffield is a hand the establishment of a Home Office branch here, of which I was a beneficiary for quite a while, along with about 800 others.
In my book he was the best Home Sec I worked under, and there were plenty. I remember seeing him sharing a platform with permanent sec John Gieve in Croydon where he put him in firmly in his place, which we all thought impressive in terms of leadership and setting direction. He brought some Yorkshire directness to the HO.
His rocky periods, the Steve Moxon affair (a proper storm in a tea cup), and Nannygate, which did for him in the end if I remember right, wouldn’t cause a ripple these days.
Look around now at local Labour - nothing remotely near his class.
I share Bridget Ingle's warm assessment of David. As to the article, you might have referred to the 1983 Fabian Pamphlet I co-authored with David, titles, 'Building from the Bottom', an exemplar of his creativity. He always said we need to win the battle of ideas - the narrative. Largely missing now I think.
Blunkett was a sellout from the day he joined Blair's cabinet; as Education Secretary he encouraged privatisation and by the time he was appointed to the post of Home Secretary he was straining at the leash to please the most right wing elements in Parliament. More recently he went one step further by helping Russian billionaires evade tax in the UK. Not a record to be proud of
Which Bill was that please John re the Russian billionaires, so I can have a look? I've just gone down a rabbit hole with his HL voting record. Thanks.
As I remember it David Blunkett during his time as Leader of Sheffield City Council was Sheffield folk's equivalent of Marmite. Loved or loathed in equal measure. Sheffielders being Sheffielders everyone seemed to have an opinion on him which they would often express in 'robust language'. What his true contribution was to Sheffield will only really be able to be evaluated by Historians many years hence. Until then it will be a matter of 'interpretation' usually depending on the political leanings of those writing or reading his biography.
I remember, as a young teenager, I’d travel all over sheffield just for 2p. It was empowering and exciting. I wish the Sheffield youngsters could have the same opportunity nowadays.
Absolutely, like you we went all over. Even though people didn't have much, you could always find money for bus fares!
As a constituency MP, David Blunkett never changed regardless of his other responsibilities. He always responded promptly, had time to meet and would do whatever was within his power to help. If he didn't think what you were asking for was a good idea, he would tell you why. And in the longer term, he turned out to be right. He still supports his old constituency and will always turn up to help when asked, most recently opening the newly refurbished Upper Wincobank schoolhouse.
Over time a lot of the detail gets lost, but it was significant that we did not have any race riots in Sheffield in the early 80s, when other major cities were in meltdown. David Blunkett, Richard Caborn, Clive Betts and Peter Price worked hard to make sure we didn't through the work they were doing. We had a major march against unemployment attended by thousands and that was it. Their anti-apartheid campaign widened the view of what was going on elsewhere.
Whatever the view of David Blunkett's political record, he's never changed in terms of his availability and willingness to help. He entered politics when people openly said that you couldn't have anyone with a disability in a position of power. But he's still there.
I would not categorise the rioting during the 1980's as race riots.
Maybe not, but that it how they were described at the time. Black youths clashing with police over their stop and search powers which disproportionately affected them. Plus the inner city deprivation levels left many cities divided along race lines.
I worked for Richard caborn at that time. I remember Richard getting some of the leaders of the skinheads(?) in the office. He talked to them and I believe - forgive me - it was a long time ago, Richard listened and talking to them may have contributed to the lack of riots in sheffield
Yes he always had the approach of working with everyone for the common good. I think it is much harder for politicians now because they've only got to get photographed with the 'wrong' person and their career can be over.
Agreed about the causes and/or catalysts for the riots. But the term race riots was as inaccurate and misleading then and it is now.
Very well written. Objective and informative. Personally, I regard SURE START as an inspired act of loving solidarity, and its cancellation an act of vandalism and arrogant inhumanity.
Two policies stand out from his Education Secretary days.
The Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) which supported those from a less wealthy background to stay on to do A levels. DB also actively supported the building of Longley 6th form college meaning that students didn't have to go to the west of the city to continue studying.
Sure Start was the other big policy. Sure Start children's centres helped to improve children's outcomes, providing support to local families by offering a wide range of services, and supported social integration and community cohesion. All those aspects were & are vital for children to thrive and fulfill their potential.
The Conservative-Lib Dem govt abolished the EMA on its first day in office. Sure Start died a death of a thousand cuts as local government bore the brunt of austerity.
Yes, sure start was such a good initiative. So sad it was cancelled; I’m sure it has cost more money, picking up the problems because of a lack of services.
Excellent article about a politician who both my wife and I have the highest regard for. Great to see that he is still active fighting for ordinary people of Sheffield and hopefully Tom Hunt will listen to David.
Difficult not to respect DB.
His achievements in the face of such an appalling disability and coming from such a modest background are truly admirable.
His lasting legacy for Sheffield is a hand the establishment of a Home Office branch here, of which I was a beneficiary for quite a while, along with about 800 others.
In my book he was the best Home Sec I worked under, and there were plenty. I remember seeing him sharing a platform with permanent sec John Gieve in Croydon where he put him in firmly in his place, which we all thought impressive in terms of leadership and setting direction. He brought some Yorkshire directness to the HO.
His rocky periods, the Steve Moxon affair (a proper storm in a tea cup), and Nannygate, which did for him in the end if I remember right, wouldn’t cause a ripple these days.
Look around now at local Labour - nothing remotely near his class.
Yes, I have 4 siblings, and we were all doing stuff, happy days.
I share Bridget Ingle's warm assessment of David. As to the article, you might have referred to the 1983 Fabian Pamphlet I co-authored with David, titles, 'Building from the Bottom', an exemplar of his creativity. He always said we need to win the battle of ideas - the narrative. Largely missing now I think.
Blunkett was a sellout from the day he joined Blair's cabinet; as Education Secretary he encouraged privatisation and by the time he was appointed to the post of Home Secretary he was straining at the leash to please the most right wing elements in Parliament. More recently he went one step further by helping Russian billionaires evade tax in the UK. Not a record to be proud of
Which Bill was that please John re the Russian billionaires, so I can have a look? I've just gone down a rabbit hole with his HL voting record. Thanks.
Good article. Thank you.
As I remember it David Blunkett during his time as Leader of Sheffield City Council was Sheffield folk's equivalent of Marmite. Loved or loathed in equal measure. Sheffielders being Sheffielders everyone seemed to have an opinion on him which they would often express in 'robust language'. What his true contribution was to Sheffield will only really be able to be evaluated by Historians many years hence. Until then it will be a matter of 'interpretation' usually depending on the political leanings of those writing or reading his biography.
History is for everyone, not just ‘historians’. 😉
Historians are tasked with researching Historical events. Others do the interpretation.