Guardian/Steve Bell cartoon;David Blunkett

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/labour/story/0,9061,1362558,00.html
Courts already involved in Blunkett dispute

Michael White, political editor
Tuesday November 30, 2004
The Guardian

The fallout from David Blunkett's broken love affair was last night threatening to spiral out of control after it emerged that aspects of the bitter dispute are already in the courts as well as the political arena.

With a former civil servant now investigating allegations that the home secretary abused his official position to help Kimberly Quinn, publisher of the Spectator magazine, Tony Blair took a calculated risk in saying yesterday that he has "no doubt at all that he will be exonerated" by Sir Alan Budd's inquiry.

A senior Home Office official did check a visa application for Mr Blunkett's then-lover's Filipina nanny, the home secretary's allies admitted last night. But they emphatically rejected charges that he did anything to "fast-track" the nanny's bid for permanent British residence.

The Quinn camp does not claim direct evidence that Mr Blunkett did expedite the visa application, only that he claimed to be able to take care of it.

"Tony Blair took a calculated risk in saying yesterday that he has "no doubt at all that he will be exonerated" by Sir Alan Budd's inquiry."

Blair has a history of being exonerated by enquiries which he set up. No doubt he will ensure the same outcome for his favourite...

Great cartoon, as usual. What is it with Blunkett and his hunger for fatherhood? If he left the government he could follow his heart and take over Fathers for Justice.

(Edited to explain myself better.)

Perhaps blunkett will make an ideal member of fathers 4 justice.
Likely, he'll have no visitation rights, just like all the ones who
are complaining and maybe the'll see the light and issue a forceful
guideline to the courts that all parents deserve equal visitation
rights, outside of special circumstances of abuse.

I can see him dressed as Mr. Blobby, standing on the edinburgh
castle wall with his doggie... blunkett for justice!!! :-)

He's called an idependent enquiry. What sort of suicidal polititan would call an idepedent enquirey on themselves if they were guilty?

This is a case of the press blowing it all out of proportion.

I don't know about yourself, but i've had the home office regularly
take several months to process very simple legal residency issues,
and i don't have the unconditional status granted to that nanny in
19 days.

We'll see, i'll send in for right to remain, and see, but i'll wager
that it takes a lot longer than 19 days.

I frankly don't care about blunket's dick, or his spending habits.
I do find it uncomfortable that "some" immigrants with sexy friends,
get stepped up on the list.