Rt Hon David Blunkett MP

David Cameron has the cheek of the devil

David Blunkett has slammed Prime Minister David Cameron for his "bare-faced cheek" in criticising the Labour Party for causing worklessness.

Mr Blunkett was reacting to the PM's speech this afternoon in which he claimed that economic inactivity in Britain was at record levels.

Recalling the last Conservative Government's record of causing riots in major cities across the UK because of its policy of shifting people onto incapacity benefits to massage the unemployment figures, Mr Blunkett said: "Had the Tories been in power over the last three years, all economists of any standing acknowledge that there would have been another half a million people out of work; deposits in banks would have been at risk; and growth would have plummeted as public expenditure – and, therefore, economic activity – was depressed.

“Truth as well as rhetoric must mark anything that can be described as ‘new politics’. A pretence of ‘new economics’ is part of the delusion which seems to underpin this coalition.”

Read the full press release here.

"I'm thinking of suing them, but it might cost me more than £30"

David appeared on this morning's Today Programme on Radio 4 to talk about the coalition government's plan to scrap identity cards — and, more crucially, the next generation of biometric passports.

David jokingly suggested that he would sue the Government for the £30 cost of the card, except that the costs of the litigation would be more than his money's worth!

The scrapping of the passports will put the UK out of step internationally, with countries including the United States demanding more detail if foreign travellers are to gain entry and be able to prove that they are who they say they are.

You can listen again to David's interview with John Humphreys here at the BBC website.

Later in the programme, one of the 15,000 members of the public who have been using ID cards for the past few months, John Kirby, gave his view on how his card had enabled him to travel hassle-free in Europe and to open a bank account in a much more convenient fashion. Listen to his comments here.

Is it fair that those with plenty should take away from those with little?

David became the first Labour MP to intervene on David Cameron as Prime Minister today when he confronted him directly about the scrapping of the Child Trust Fund.

David stood up in the House of Commons during the first day of debate on the Queen's Speech to highlight the unfairness of the Government — many members of which are millionaires — scrapping a measure which provides young people with an asset for the future and the chance to lift their horizons.

The Government said in the Speech that its motivation was "fairness" and "responsibility".

David said: "On the issue of fairness and responsibility and given that 50% of the funding for the Child Trust Fund would benefit 1.5 million of the most disadvantaged families, is it fair that the Cabinet, who are asset-rich, should take away from those who are asset-poor?"

The Children's Mutual, the company which helps parents administer Child Trust Funds, pronounced itself "absolutely staggered" by George Osborne's decision to scrap it.

One man's wasteful spending is another man's asset for the future

David Blunkett has condemned the Lib Dem/Tory coalition government for announcing it will completely scrap the Child Trust Fund.

The Fund, established by Labour in 2002 to provide a nest egg for every child to access when they reached the age of 18, will be abolished by 1 January next year under the Government's plans.

David said: “In the most deprived areas, the default accounts set up for our children's future was the one hope that those doomed to intergenerational disadvantage might emerge at 18 with at least some chance of a deposit on a home, an opportunity to take advantage of higher education or the beginning of self-employment.

“At a stroke, the coalition has removed that opportunity from millions of our poorest youngsters. They should be ashamed of themselves.”

Read the full press release here.

Blunkett seeks clarity on school funding

David has written to the new Education Secretary, Michael Gove, seeking urgent reassurances that funding previously agreed for Fir Vale School and Parkwood Academy will be forthcoming from the new Government.

The money for the schools is the latest funding stream to be thrown into doubt by the new Lib Dem/Tory government's commitment to review every item of previously announced Government spending and to cut billions of pounds from public expenditure.

In his letter to Gove, David writes: "Small as well as large companies would be affected by any halt to the agreed programme and, in the case of Parkwood, its status as an Academy would be jeopardised".

Download David's letter to Michael Gove here and read the full press release here.

Respect Parliament, Blunkett warns coalition

David has welcomed the re-election of John Bercow as Speaker of the House of Commons — and warned the Lib Dem/Conservative coalition government to respect Parliament.

David spoke during congratulations to the Speaker to say: "We have debated at length the need for a new politics; for the House to be able to hold the Government to account more effectively. Despite this, it would appear that major constitutional announcements about the House, the voting system and the House of Lords; on spending cuts; and on how the House might rid itself of a Government that no longer had its confidence – all three appear to have been made prior to Parliament convening next week."

Speaking after the short debate, David said: "It is outrageous that major spending cuts, affecting many people across the country, will be announced outside the House of Commons next Monday – just 48 hours before George Osborne would have ample opportunity to do so in the days of debate following the Queen’s Speech.”

Read the full press release here.

UPDATE: Read David's full speech here.

If Sheffield is to thrive, Clegg must "get his finger out", says Blunkett

David Blunkett has redoubled his call for Hallam MP and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg to step in and protect the city of Sheffield from the indecision resulting from the formation of the coalition government.

David is reacting to the news that the Treasury is to review every Government spending commitment given since 1 January — including the £80 million loan previously announced by Lord Mandelson for Sheffield Forgemasters.

"Nick Clegg, should get his finger out and tell his Lib Dem colleagues – Business Secretary Vince Cable and Chief Secretary David Laws – to let Forgemasters get on with creating jobs and providing much-needed overseas earnings from international trade," David said.

Read the full press release here.

Nick Clegg must act to protect Sheffield's roads, says Blunkett

David has written to Deputy Prime Minister and Sheffield Hallam MP Nick Clegg demanding assurances that the ten-year programme to repair and renew Sheffield's roads will go ahead.

The Treasury has announced that it will now include Private Finance Initiative (PFI) money on the public balance sheets. The ten-year roads programme is funded with PFI money.

With the new coalition government looking for what Clegg himself has described as "savage cuts", the sorely-needed road and street lighting repair programme is in doubt — not to mention the changes needed in the city's drainage systems following the 2007 floods.

You can download David's full letter to Nick Clegg here.

Blunkett condemns the "great mistake" of electing our police chiefs

David Blunkett has spoken out against Lib Dem/Conservative plans, confirmed today by the new Home Secretary Theresa May, to bring in elected police commissioners.

Last year, David published A People's Police Force, a widely-welcomed review of police accountability which rejected the notion of elected police chiefs.

Today, David said: "There will be a confusion of roles between those responsible for independently managing the police, free from political interference; and elected local councillors, who have a legitimate voice on behalf of their constituents.

“We are not America and we don’t want to be."

Read the full press release here.

No to 55

The Lib Dem/Conservative coalition government has proposed a law which would prevent Parliament throwing out the Government unless a motion achieved the support of 55% of MPs.

Historically, 50% of MPs plus 1 was enough to pass a no confidence motion — which almost inevitably led to a dissolution of Parliament and fresh elections. The Conservatives and Lib Dems plan to overturn this precedent to secure themselves in office.

David Blunkett has attacked the proposal, saying: "This is a profoundly anti-democratic move by the proponents of what is supposed to be the 'new politics'."

Read the full press release here.