The Hindu : International : Blunkett's career in doubt

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Dec 23, 2004

International

International

Blunkett's career in doubt

By Michael White

LONDON, DEC. 22. The former British Home Secretary, David Blunkett's political career was last night left in doubt after an official inquiry failed to clear him of wrongdoing over the fast-tracking of a residence visa for his former lover's nanny.

Charles Clarke, Mr. Blunkett's successor as U.K. Home Secretary, immediately announced changes in the way such immigration cases are handled. But Tony Blair's office in Downing Street, London, declared the report by Sir Alan Budd, a former U.K. Treasury official, ``draws a line under the issue'' and that the integrity of Mr. Blair's most combative ally is still intact.

Opposition Tory and Liberal Democrat politicians denounced the Budd report as fresh evidence of ``grubby government'' and demanded a judicial inquiry into unresolved discrepancies in the case. They spoke of ``gaping holes'' in the report, rather than of a whitewash.

Sir Alan concluded that a ``chain of events'' — triggered by Mr. Blunkett's wish to help his then lover, Kimberly Quinn — led to the speedy granting of nanny Leoncia Casalme's visa. It amounted, he said, to what he called an ``open verdict'' on the behaviour of Mr. Blunkett and his private office.

`Not proven'

But the finding was closer to the Scottish legal concept of ``not proven'' than confirmation Mr. Blunkett had caused the visa application to be expedited. He denied this and Mr. Blair predicted he would be exonerated. Both were proved wrong by Sir Alan's report.

In effect it confirmed that Mr. Blunkett would have had to resign yesterday had he not done so last Wednesday. Sir Alan unearthed six faxes and emails linking his private office to the U.K.'s Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) in Croydon, south London.

In the most damning evidence, an exchange of emails between Mr. Blunkett's office and the immigration department on May 8 and 9 showed that his private adviser had chased the nanny's application. The request got back the response from immigration: ``Sorted — she has been granted [indefinite leave to remain] — papers will be sent to her shortly ... (no special favours, only what they would normally do — but a bit quicker).''

In a parallel inquiry into Mr. Blunkett's gift of two first-class rail tickets, meant for MPs' (members of Parliament) spouses, to Mrs. Quinn, the parliamentary standards commissioner, Sir Philip Mawer, concluded he was guilty of a ``clear breach of parliamentary rules.'' Mr. Blunkett has already apologised for ``misunderstanding'' the spousal rules, and repaid the £179. No further punishment is likely to be imposed in the lesser case.

As for the bigger charge, Mr. Blunkett has stepped down from office. But appeals by some backbenchers to ``get a sense of proportion'' over the affair were offset by Tory determination to keep it going as a symbol of Blairite sleaze and the creeping politicisation of Britain's neutral civil service.

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