Lifetime award as Blunkett prepares to step down

The Sheffield MP was among those honoured at last night’s Political Studies Association annual awards dinner.

The ceremony, Hosted by Channel 4’s Jon Snow, recognises the academics, journalists, campaigners and politicians who have made an exceptional contribution to the study and the practice of politics.

Mr Blunkett was honoured with the prestigious “Lifetime Achievement in Politics” award as he enters his final few months as MP for Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough. The judging panel’s citation said: “David Blunkett has been an effective if controversial minister who did much to help Labour’s rise to power and dominance from 1997 through to 2010.

“There are few people who know just how hard active politics is as a profession and few who have worked so tirelessly to deliver positive social change. He continues to promote political literacy via advocacy of improved citizenship education in schools and active political engagement more generally”.

He was presented with the award, which Jack Straw won at last year’s awards ceremony, by Peter Kellner of YouGov.

The Conservative Home Secretary Theresa May picked up her own award, for politician of the year, presented to her by BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson.

Other MPs to pick up awards at the event include Simon Danczuk for campaigner of the year and Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, named Parliamentarian of the Year.