“What is it that unites, on the left of British politics, George Orwell, Billy Bragg, Gordon Brown and myself? An understanding that identity and a sense of belonging need to be linked to our commitment to nationhood and a modern form of patriotism.”

British politician

David Blunkett, Baron Blunkett, is a British politician and Labour Party figure who served in Parliament from 1987 to 2015. He was Secretary of State for Education and Employment from 1997 to 2001, Home Secretary from 2001 to 2004, and Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in 2005. He represented Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough in the House of Commons for nearly three decades, then was made a life peer in 2015 and moved to the House of Lords. His public career is closely tied to domestic policy, especially education, policing, and welfare.