As a former home secretary, I have access to and knowledge of the workings of the system in a way that individuals unfamiliar with the courts can never hope to have. David Blunkett accesscourthome Change image and share on social
Politics is about the participation and engagement of the wider citizenry - to miss that point would doom us to irrelevance. David Blunkett citizenrydoomengagement Change image and share on social
We need to build on what we know works - local oversight of schools to keep a check on performance, timely interventions in schools to support those at risk of failing, and partnerships between schools to help each one to improve. David Blunkett buildcheckfail share on social
I don't like prolonged, highly expensive commissions, especially if they are chaired by judges. We seem to have overwhelming faith in judges. David Blunkett chaircommissionexpensive Change image and share on social
It is certainly true that as we grow older, our need for healthcare also grows. It is also true that those who have lived their lives in the most difficult circumstances and experienced the most exhausting and challenging work places need healthcare the most. David Blunkett challengecircumstancedifficult share on social
If you have a sense of irony or humour, you're usually cut down, as you're usually distorted or misinterpreted. So it does lead to us being slightly more dour and staid and predictable than would otherwise be the case, which I personally find quite frustrating - because if you don't laugh occasionally in my job, you cry most of the time. David Blunkett casecrycut share on social
As education and employment secretary in 1997, I inherited hundreds of schools where the roofs leaked, the windows rattled, and they relied entirely on outside toilets. David Blunkett educationemploymenthundred Change image and share on social
Faith in technocrats over politicians is not a trend from which Britain is exempt. David Blunkett britainexemptfaith Change image and share on social
The clash between capital and labour, between those seeking to maximise profit and those with only their toil to sell, was the driving force for the creation of the trade unions in the 19th century. David Blunkett 19thcapitalcentury Change image and share on social
To punish MPs because of the distance they live from London - those with fast train journeys quite close to London as well as those at some distance from both the capital or an appropriate airport - is perverse, but also dangerous to democracy. David Blunkett airportcapitalclose share on social