Home Office Ministers and Responsibilities

Rt Hon David Blunkett MP

David Blunkett MP has overall responsibility for the work of the Home Office, civil emergencies, security, terrorism, expenditure and Civil Renewal.

He was was appointed Home Secretary on 8 June 2001.

Mr Blunkett was first elected to Parliament in June 1987, representing the Sheffield Brightside seat. He was Opposition spokesman on Environment (Local Government) from 1988 - 92 and then Shadow Secretary of State for Health 1992 - 94, Education 1994 - 95 and Education and Employment when the Departments merged from 1995. From 2 May 1997, he served as Secretary of State for Education and Employment.

Born in June 1947, he was educated at the Sheffield School for the Blind, Royal Normal College for the Blind, Shrewsbury Technical College, Sheffield Richmond College of Further Education, the University of Sheffield and Huddersfield College of Education. He is a former member of the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education, and is currently a member of the public service union UNISON.

His early political career was spent in local government, on the South Yorkshire County Council from 1973 - 77 and on Sheffield City Council from 1970 - 88, where he was chair of the Social Services Committee from 1976 - 80 and Leader from 1980 - 87.

Mr Blunkett has a National Certificate in Business Studies as well as A levels, a degree and Post Graduate Certificate in Education. He also has advanced RSA typing and 100 words per minute Braille shorthand.

His special interests range from education and local government to community development and citizenship and the role of civil society. He enjoys walking, sailing, music and poetry. Mr Blunkett has three sons.

Mr Blunkett said of his appointment:

"I am privileged to have been appointed Home Secretary. It is one of the most challenging and potentially rewarding jobs in Government.

"I will be looking to build on the foundations laid by my predecessor Jack Straw who has done an excellent job at the Home Office.

"As new Home Secretary I will be looking to listen and learn.

"But I enter this job with key priorities in mind: tackling crime, particularly violent crime and fighting those trafficking in drugs, people, or guns, with every available tool at our disposal.

"I am very pleased indeed that the Prime Minister has asked me to take on the full co-ordination of our anti-drugs strategy which will be linked to our policy on tackling alcohol-related crime.

"The challenge is to remove the scourge of drugs from our communities. The job of the police and the well being of families are being bedevilled by not just drug pushers but the traffickers behind them who are making multi-million pound profits out of the misery of others.

"Overall, I want to play a significant role in the development of coherent social policy for the Government as a whole and look forward to being able to offer an holistic approach to the challenge ahead."