David Blunkett to stand down at next general election

Former Home Secretary David Blunkett is to stand down from Parliament at the next general election, he has announced.



Mr Blunkett said it was clear that Ed Miliband would want "new faces in ministerial office and a clear break with the past" if Labour won next year's election as he informed his Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough constituents of his decision.

Labour leader Mr Miliband said Mr Blunkett had been an "amazing asset" to the party who will be "hugely missed".

Mr Blunkett's decision leaves a vacancy in a safe Labour seat, which he won with a 13,632 majority in 2010.

He is the latest former member of the New Labour-era Cabinets to announce his decision to quit the Commons in 2015, including his predecessor as home secretary Jack Straw.

Good riddance!

Blunkett is one of many former cabinet ministers who took a well-paid job as 'advisor' to a company which had previously been awarded a huge contract by the same government department (although he is by no means the worst offender in that respect).

He was also a supporter of a government which in 2008 introduced legislation which reduced many blind people less fortunate than himself to the status of beggar.

I'm with you Dutchman. Blunket won't be missed.