Blunkett boosts media profile by joining Sun as columnist

by Joe Lepper, Brand Republic 30-Nov-05, 11:00

LONDON – The Sun has snapped up disgraced former minister David Blunkett as a columnist, just weeks after his resignation as Work and Pensions Secretary.

The Sun has announced that Blunkett's "forthright and outspoken views on life and politics" will be aired in a weekly column starting tomorrow and then every Thursday.

To publicise the move, Blunkett has given his first full interview to the paper. The article appears in today's edition and recounts his resignation from the pensions brief due to "mistakes" in not disclosing a two-week directorship of DNA Bioscience, before taking up the role after the May election.

This was his second high-profile resignation from cabinet, having quit as Home Secretary in December last year amid claims he fast-tracked a visa application for a former lover's nanny.

It is understood that Blunkett met with Sun editor Rebekah Wade shortly after his latest resignation, by coincidence on the same night as her alleged "ginger ninja" attack on her husband, the actor Ross Kemp.

Earlier this week, Blunkett was named as one of five guest editors of BBC Radio 4's 'Today Programme'. As guest editor, Blunkett said he wanted to open up the show beyond its core political and business listenership.

Other guest editors include Queen Noor of Jordan and HSBC chairman Sir John Bond.

According to latest figures of MP's earnings outside of parliament, Blunkett is in fifth place on £91,000. Topping the list is William Hague on £935,000, including a reported £190,000 for his News of the World column.

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