Blunkett to explain ‘good government’
Former home secretary David Blunkett and former chancellor Kenneth Clarke will face a committee of MPs today to discuss ‘good government’.
The ex-ministers will face questions on ethical behaviour and centralisation of power.
Mr Blunkett had to resign from government twice following accusations of misusing ministerial powers and failing to declare an interest.
His first resignation followed accusations he sped up a visa application for the nanny of his lover, Kimberly Fortier.
Mr Blunkett left government before Sir Alan Budd’s report into the scandal, but he nevertheless concluded that “I have been able to establish a chain of events linking Blunkett to the change in the decision on Mrs Casalme’s application”.
His second resignation came after Sir Alistair Graham, chair of the committee on Standards in Public Life found Mr Blunkett had broken ministerial rules by failing to declare a directorship in the company DNA Bioscience.
Mr Blunkett finds himself giving evidence next to a man he credited with one of his favourite party conference moments.
Peter Lilley, Conservative MP for Hitchin and Harpenden, sang Gilbert and Sullivan’s ‘I have a little list’ at the 1992 Conservative party conference as a condemnation of those who unfairly claim benefits.
Labour MP for Greenwich & Woolwich Nick Raynsford is also giving evidence.
