Exclusive: We need a miracle to win the election – Blunkett

Former Home Secretary David Blunkett, who is heading up the party's fundraising for the election, has launched a "give to win" drive aimed at convincing people to donate 1,000 to 5,000 as he acknowledges they cannot match the Tory war chest.

The cash-strapped party still hopes to attract bigger donations but has turned to less wealthy people willing to give money to "redress the balance" to help fund its fight to cling onto power which sees several marginal Yorkshire constituencies as major battlegrounds.

Mr Blunkett, MP for Sheffield Brightside, says it will take a miracle for Labour to win, but insists they could yet win a small majority because "miracles do happen".

"We only just lost in 1979 and that was after the winter of discontent and enormous problems with inflation and interest rates," he said. "I think we might win. We might get a small overall majority."

In an exclusive interview with the Yorkshire Post, Mr Blunkett also:

Says Labour are right to pledge to halve the 175bn budget deficit in four years – but says they should take another 10 years to reduce the rest rather than imposing "suicidal" cuts.

Reveals he is "lobbying hard" to influence the manifesto with a series of radical proposals including setting up a youth volunteering corps.

Warns the British National Party – who are standing against him in his constituency – he is ready to take them on in "hand-to-hand street-fighting".

Mr Blunkett was installed as chairman of Labour's election fundraising board before Christmas and says he has had an encouraging start to his work.

Although Labour marginally outspent the Tories in the 2005 election, it has struggled for money since then and currently has about 8m with which to fight this contest, compared to about 18m – the maximum permissible – the Tories are expected to splash out.

Labour has been largely reliant upon the trade unions for its funding, but Mr Blunkett is trying to close the gap with the Tories already having embarked on major billboard campaigns.

While major donors are being sought, Mr Blunkett is also banking on a "cascade" effect where current supporters seek donations from friends and contacts, who in turn speak to others they know.

"We're really saying to business people, those with a little nest egg can you help us?" he said. "We're not asking for vast sums of money.

"The really big donors are being approached in a different way – the people who can give 100,000, 250,000. I'm not asking for that.

"I'm talking about people who might be able to give 1,000-plus, some people might be able to give 5,000. I'm certainly not asking for more than I've given myself, because I've coughed up as well."

Mr Blunkett, who has personally donated more than 18,000 to the party in the past two years according to Electoral Commission records, hopes to raise several million pounds by the time the campaign is under way. The money is being ring fenced from general party funds so Labour is not left bankrupt after the election.