David Blunkett

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (left) and Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX in-conversation at the conclusion of the second day of the AI Safety Summit. PIC: Kirsty Wigglesworth/PA Wire

To his credit the PM has started taking the right steps on AI - David Blunkett

Shadow cabinet members (left to right) Wes Streeting, Yvette Cooper, David Lammy, Rachel Reeves and Angela Rayner, during Sir Keir Starmer's speech at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool. PIC: Peter Byrne/PA Wire

Relying on Tory abstentions won’t be enough for Labour - David Blunkett

Richard McCourt and Dominic Wood of Dick and Dom. (Pic credit: Tristan Fewings / Getty Images)

Yorkshire celebrities to appear on Celebrity Antiques Road Trip

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, with Angela Rayner (left) and Rachel Reeves, arriving with his shadow cabinet in central London for a meeting. PIC: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire

Labour needs to outline how it will deliver a better tomorrow - David Blunkett

A view of the Bank of England , which has raised interest rates 13 times over the last 18 months. PIC: Aaron Chown/PA Wire

A more common sense approach is required to inflation - David Blunkett

South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard. Picture: Chris Etchells

Mayor unveils plans to create 300 new apprenticeships in South Yorkshire

Boris Johnson addresses the media from outside number 10 before formally resigning as Prime Minister, at Downing Street on September 06, 2022 in London. Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images.

WhatsApp saga highlights a change in Westminster - David Blunkett

Rory Stewart made string criticisms of Labour's criminal justice policy at an event in Leeds

Rory Stewart condemns Keir Starmer for 'disgusting' prison policy

The BBC headquarters at New Broadcasting House is illuminated at night. PIC: Oli Scarff/Getty Images

The BBC seems to exclude regions in our own country - David Blunkett

'It has always interested me how those who preach peace only remember Tony Blair for joining the US in invading Iraq five years later'. PIC: Paul Faith/PA Wire

The enormity of the Good Friday Agreement must not be forgotten - David Blunkett

Matt Hancock is the former Secretary of State for Health. PIC: WPA Pool/Getty Images

Matt Hancock’s WhatsApp leaks show how things have changed - Lord Blunkett

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks during a press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a military facility. PIC: Peter Nicholls/PA Wire

Economic woes cannot just be attributed to the war in Ukraine - David Blunkett

David Blunkett described how his wife Margaret had waited four-and-a-half hours to be admitted to the Northern General Hospital in Sheffield after being taken there by ambulance. He said their experience was sadly not uncommon and the NHS was in a state of 'emergency'. Photo: Getty Images/National World

David Blunkett describes wife's 4.5-hour wait at city hospital

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during his first major domestic speech of 2023 talked about the importance of 16 – 19 education and the teaching of maths. PIC: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire

We need to invest in the education of our people - David Blunkett

David Blunkett has spoken about Labour's political reform plans (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)

David Blunkett 'concerned' over Labour plans to abolish House of Lords

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer (right), former Prime Minister Gordon Brown (left) and Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, at Nexus, University of Leeds, in Yorkshire, to launch a report on constitutional change and political reform that would spread power, wealth and opportunity across the UK. Picture date: Monday December 5, 2022.

My concerns on how Labour's political reform plan will be viewed: David Blunkett

A UK Border Agency officer checks a passport at Gatwick Airport. PIC: Steve Parsons/PA Wire

Biometric passports should be used as long overdue identity cards - Lord Mann

Former Home Secretary David Blunkett leaves 10 Downing Street in 2004. PIC: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

Blunkett right to warn Labour that election victory is not a given - YP Letters

Sir Keir Starmer (centre) with Labour's shadow Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, (2nd from right) and Former Education Secretary and Chair of the Council of Skills, Lord Blunkett (2nd from left) and other Council of Skills advisors, in the Houses of Parliament, London, as their 'Learning and skills for economic recovery, social cohesion and a more equal Britain' report is launched. The report, commissioned by the Labour leader last November, will make recommendations on driving up skills across England. Picture date: Wednesday October 26, 2022.

Education "revolution" needed, Labour says

'In this column four weeks ago, I echoed the warning of the former Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, in describing Liz Truss as having a “tenuous" grasp of economics.' PIC: Leon Neal/Getty Images

Where do the past few weeks leave those living in Yorkshire? - David Blunkett

David Blunkett is right to bemoan the Tory leadership race but 'democracy is hostage to people’s willingness to participate in it', says reader.

'Democracy is hostage to people’s willingness to participate in it' - YP Letters
From: Adrian F Sunman, South Collingham, Newark, Notts

'The Conservative leadership campaign, which will eventually end in a new Prime Minister, is, for all but a tiny handful, a spectator sport.'

Leadership race has left us all looking on as mere spectators - David Blunkett

David Blunkett believes confidence in democracy can be rebuilt after Boris Johnson's resignation. Image: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire

We can rebuild confidence in our damaged democracy - David Blunkett

David Blunkett has hit out at plans to move the House of Lords out of London

Moving House of Lords to Stoke or York "would be nonsense", Blunkett claims

Kay Mellor

Kay Mellor's Yorkshire: Earliest memory, favourite places and people she admired

Oliver Coppard, who was elected mayor of South Yorkshire.

Week of joy and grief in both football and politics - David Blunkett

Should Labour be campaigning to rejoin the EU Single Market and Customs Union?

Labour should campaign to reverse Brexit – Yorkshire Post Letters

Remains of the Berlin wall. Picture: Getty.

UK should follow lead of German reunification to level up - David Blunkett

How can the nation become more resilient in the aftermath of Storm Arwen? David Blunkett, a former Home Secretary, offers his forthright views.

Why Storm Arwen was a warning over future energy crises – David Blunkett

What are the key lessons after Philip Allott resigned as North Yorkshire's Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner?

Philip Allott scandal exposes legal loophole that betrays victims like Sarah Eve...

A new BBC documentary has looked at the relationship between Tony Blair and Gordon Brown during the New Labour era.

What Tony Blair and Gordon Brown were really like to work with

Today marks the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks when David Blunkett was Home Secretary.

9/11 anniversary: UK misjudged influence and Afghan history after atrocity, conc...
THE Home Secretary on the day of the 9/11 terror attacks 20 years ago says the West’s subsequent failure to understand the history of Afghanistan precipitated the Taliban’s take-over last month.

David Blunkett has written about his reflections of the 9/11 terror attacks 20 years ago. He was Home Secretary at the time.

How West misread Afghanistan after 9/11 terror attacks – David Blunkett

David Blunkett is the former Home Secretary.

No answer to my ordeal on radio’s Any Questions? – David Blunkett

Kim Leadbeater celebrates her victory in the Batley And Spen by-election with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, on July 2, 2021 in Cleckheaton. Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images.

Labour has a long way to go after Batley and Spen by-election - David Blunkett

David Blunkett supports the lifting of lockdown restrictions from June 21 - even though he is not a 'libertarian' by instinct.

Why lockdown must now end and freedoms return – David Blunkett

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has accepted full responsibility for the party's Hartlepool by-election defeat.

Keir Starmer and ‘whinging’ Labour handed stark warning after Hartlepool humilia...

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is coming to terms with the party's heavy defeat in the Hartlepool by-election.

Labour must stop ‘whinging’ after Hartlepool by-election body blow – David Blunk...

Boris Johnson leaves this week's Downing Street press conference.

High stakes for Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer in local elections – David Blunke...

Chancellor Rishi Sunak during the Budget.

How ‘levelling up’ is fuelling wider injustice – David Blunkett

Boris Johnson (right) with Jake Berry, the then Northern Powerhouse Minister.

Why ex-minister’s ‘no plan’ for North claim damns Boris Johnson – Tom Richmond

Burned out cars in the Manningham area of Bradford, after a night of violence in 2001.

20 years on, what did we learn from Bradford riots?

David Blunkett graduated as a mature student from the Polytechnic of Huddersfield, now the university, in 1973 with a certificate in eduction. Photo: Supplied

David Blunkett: 'If you're not learning something new, then not really living.'

This was Boris Johnson attending Brexit talks in Brussels last week.

Boirs Johnson’s strength is due to Labour weakness one year after election – Dav...

Was it right for TV networks and social media to challenge the veracity of President Donald Trump's post-election remarks?

Silencing Donald Trump sets free speech precedent – David Blunkett

Local leaders should have a greater say over lockdown rules, argues David Blunkett.

Lockdown’s ‘grind down’ can be overcome by caring for others – David Blunkett

Commuters are being encouraged to return to work - despite new Coid-19 restrictions coming into effect following a surge in new cases.

Boris Johnson’s virus response fails these three key tests – David Blunkett

Should the police keep the public better informed about the progress of cases?

Police must tell crime victims when and why ‘no further action’ is taken – The Y...

What are the practical - and societal - consequences of 'working form home' following the Covid-19 epidemic? David Blunkett poses the question.

Homeworking is an unhappy way forward for society – David Blunkett

Chancellor Rishi Sunak should think globally and act locally according to David Blunkett, the former Cabinet minister.

Rishi Sunak is emulating Labour’s New Deal – David Blunkett

Chancellor Rishi Sunak pioneered the furlough job retention scheme at the start of the lockdown.

Yorkshire MP’s praise for ‘world-leading’ pandemic response – Yorkshire Post Let...

Was Prime Minister Boris Johnson right to begin relaxing lockdown restrictions? Photo: PA/Stefan Rousseau

Go back to a true lockdown to protect all of us

This was the House of Commons during Prime Minister's Questions this week, but were the exchanges effective?

Pandemic is no defence for sidelining Parliamentary scrutiny – David Blunkett

Under pressure: Owls Manager Danny Wilson is seen with new signings Gillies DeBilde and Gerald Sibon.

When MPs demanded the axe for Sheffield Wednesday manager

Should speed cameras continue to be used during the Covid-19 lockdown?

Why I’m baffled by continued police focus on speed cameras during crisis

Rishi Sunak has impressed David Blunkett as Chancellor. Now he needs to deliver a jobs miracle.

Listen to North not just London doomsayers on crisis recovery plan - David Blunk...

Samples are tested for respiratory viruses during a post-Budget visit by Chancellor Rishi Sunak to the pathology labs at Leeds General Infirmary.

Yorkshire common sense and nous will help beat coronavirus – David Blunkett

Should the House of Lords move to Yorkshire? Photo: Toby Melville/PA Wire

House of Lords should be scrapped not moved to York and this is why - Yorkshire ...

Should the House of Lords relocate to Yorkshire?

Doncaster or Pontefract for House of Lords? – Yorkshire Post Letters

The Government is said to be considering relocating the House of Lords to York.

Symbolism of House of Lords move to York could be very superficial – The Yorkshi...