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David Blunkett and his 'scandal'
Posted by
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06 December 2004
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Let me start with a summary before expanding: "Who cares?".
Every day at the moment, David Blunkett is on the front pages because of a huge scandal that has engulfed his country. The scandal? He put a visa application at the top of the pile. Honestly, you would think there are more important things happening in the world, like, for instance, a war where people are dying.
Some background for those that don't know. David Blunkett is our home secretary, responsible for our 'homeland security', immigration, benefits and welfare and so on. He had a relationship with a woman and says she had his child, and is currently pregnant with another child that is his, but she disputes this. I'll come back to this point later. The main scandal surrounds the fact that it is claimed he 'fast-tracked' a visa application for a nanny that was going to work for his girlfriend. This is, according to some, an abuse of power.
It's not what I would call an abuse of power that concerns the country. If you want an abuse of power, it's Tony Blair going to war against the wishes of the country and without a parliamentary vote. But that's another topic.
Everyone in a job does favours for friends & family. It might be using a discount to get cheap stuff, it might be doing some photocopying on the office machine or it might be putting some paperwork at the top of the pile. Everyone does it, no-one really cares. It's not an abuse of power in any stretch of the imagination. So why are the media fixated with this rather insignificant act that David Blunkett has done?
Providing that the nanny was legally entitled to be allowed a visa, I see no issue with her visa being sped up. If she wasn't allowed in the country but it was processed anyway, then that is an abuse of power - but there has been no such claim made. I wish the media would shut up about it and move onto important news. It's due a lot to the Daily Mails 'revelations' and I admit I read the Daily Mail (I like the informal stories and the crosswords, the rest winds me up).
As for the other part of the story - his children - that is a matter for the people concerned and should be of no interest to the country. Maybe an inch in the paper to tell us, but it's not really a news story.
I am no supporter of the labour party, but David Blunkett has thus far had a clean sheet, is generally liked by most people and hasn't put a foot wrong. It is absolutely ridiculous that the Tories (my party) and the media are using this as a call for his resignation. If it works, I will be disgusted. I was equally disgusted that Boris Johnson was sacked, but that's again another subject.
Politicans are real human beings and admittedly they can be pretty dirty sometimes. But, they make mistakes and have a life like the rest of us, and that should not be held against them.
Every day at the moment, David Blunkett is on the front pages because of a huge scandal that has engulfed his country. The scandal? He put a visa application at the top of the pile. Honestly, you would think there are more important things happening in the world, like, for instance, a war where people are dying.
Some background for those that don't know. David Blunkett is our home secretary, responsible for our 'homeland security', immigration, benefits and welfare and so on. He had a relationship with a woman and says she had his child, and is currently pregnant with another child that is his, but she disputes this. I'll come back to this point later. The main scandal surrounds the fact that it is claimed he 'fast-tracked' a visa application for a nanny that was going to work for his girlfriend. This is, according to some, an abuse of power.
It's not what I would call an abuse of power that concerns the country. If you want an abuse of power, it's Tony Blair going to war against the wishes of the country and without a parliamentary vote. But that's another topic.
Everyone in a job does favours for friends & family. It might be using a discount to get cheap stuff, it might be doing some photocopying on the office machine or it might be putting some paperwork at the top of the pile. Everyone does it, no-one really cares. It's not an abuse of power in any stretch of the imagination. So why are the media fixated with this rather insignificant act that David Blunkett has done?
Providing that the nanny was legally entitled to be allowed a visa, I see no issue with her visa being sped up. If she wasn't allowed in the country but it was processed anyway, then that is an abuse of power - but there has been no such claim made. I wish the media would shut up about it and move onto important news. It's due a lot to the Daily Mails 'revelations' and I admit I read the Daily Mail (I like the informal stories and the crosswords, the rest winds me up).
As for the other part of the story - his children - that is a matter for the people concerned and should be of no interest to the country. Maybe an inch in the paper to tell us, but it's not really a news story.
I am no supporter of the labour party, but David Blunkett has thus far had a clean sheet, is generally liked by most people and hasn't put a foot wrong. It is absolutely ridiculous that the Tories (my party) and the media are using this as a call for his resignation. If it works, I will be disgusted. I was equally disgusted that Boris Johnson was sacked, but that's again another subject.
Politicans are real human beings and admittedly they can be pretty dirty sometimes. But, they make mistakes and have a life like the rest of us, and that should not be held against them.
