[RSM123]

British politics rocked by yet another sex scandal.

Visa affair: Blunkett orders inquiry
Politics

Published: 28-Nov-2004
By: Simon Israel


David Blunkett has decided to meet head on allegations that he misused his position as Home Secretary to help his ex-lover.


He's called for an independent inquiry, following a stream of claims in this morning's papers - the most damaging of which is that he fast-tracked a passport application for the nanny of his former lover, Kimberly Quinn.


Despite firm denials from Mr Blunkett, and full support for him from the Prime Minister, the controversy has the potential to overshadow the government's law and order agenda.

The Home Secretary has been forced to respond to allegations where his private and public life have merged, the Prime Minister has been forced to publically support his Cabinet colleague.


And the Tories smell blood.


According to the Sunday Telegraph the key allegation came from an e-mail written by the Home Secretary's ex lover Kimberley Quinn that he had fast-tracked her nanny's residency visa application.

Mr Blunkett's said he's simply checked the form and handed it back.


He says that allegation was wrong, as were a number of others including:


that he shared sensitive security information with Mrs Quinn


The Home Office says this information was already in the public domain.


that he ordered a policeman to stand outside Mrs Quinn's home for protection during a May Day protest.


Simply not true, according to his spokesman.


Mrs Quinn says she was given two first class rail tickets that Mr Blunkett had received as a Member of Parliament.


But she was his partner at the time, says the Home Office, so that was acceptable.


it’s alleged Mr Blunkett got the American embassy to issue a temporary passport for her son.


Mr Blunkett says he applied no pressure to the embassy though he did contact them.


But all this was not enough for the Conservatives.


"The inquiry should cover all the allegations about the Home Secretary abusing his position rather than just concentrating on one specific allegation"


David Davies MP, Shadow Home Secretary


Downing Street reacted with a statement mid morning expressing the Prime Minister's full support for Mr Blunkett and a cabinet colleague was on televsion at lunchtime to respond to calls for an inquiry.


"He has always been absolutely straight with everybody, whether it's on policy terms - telling people the truth about threats from crime or whatever it might be - and the same applies in this situation"


Peter Hain MP, Leader of Commons, speaking on ITV’s Jonathan Dimbleby programme


Within hours the Home Secretary announced he had asked his permanent secretary John Gieve to set up an independent review into the immigration department's handling of the nanny's visa application.


Mr Blunkett said:


"...in the light of the flagrant attempt to link my public position with the deeply personal circumstances of my private life, I believe that on this specific occasion, it is right to lay this accusation to rest."


The Home Secretary has rarely commented on his private life.


But he and his advisors have become increasingly worried that the messy aftermath of his affair and the paternity battles risks undermining public confidence in him, especially allegations that he abused his position as Home Secretary.


Mr Blunkett's banking on an end to this matter by tomorrow afternoon so there are no distractions when he launches the Bill for ID cards in the Commons.

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DAVID BLUNKETT/KIMBERLEY QUINN: KEY DATES

AUGUST 14, 2004: The News of the World reveals that Mr Blunkett is having an affair with a married woman. Mr Blunkett refuses to discuss the claims and insists that his private life has no bearing on his role as Home Secretary.

AUGUST 15: The Sun newspaper names the married woman as Kimberley Fortier - who has since changed her name to Quinn - the American publisher of The Spectator magazine.

AUGUST 16: Mrs Quinn said she had no comment to make about the media speculation about her private life and appealed to the media to respect her privacy.

AUGUST 17: More newspaper revelations as the Daily Mirror reveals that Mrs Quinn is several months pregnant with her second child and is due to give birth early next yeAR.

NOVEMBER 23: Kimberley Quinn has medical evidence proving the Home Secretary is not the father of her first child, according to the Evening Standard.

Lawyers for Mrs Quinn were said to have been contacted by the Home Secretary, who reportedly wanted DNA tests to prove whether he is the father of both William and the child she is carrying.

NOVEMBER 27: The Sheffield Brightside MP denies allegations that he abused his position to help Mrs Quinn's nanny obtain a British visa. The Sunday Telegraph quoted an e-mail by his former lover in which she suggested the Home Secretary had "fast-tracked" the application for permanent residency in the UK from Filipina Leoncia "Luz" Casalme.


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Could not post a poll - but would lke to know who others here at TSG think is to blame here :

1)The British Home Secretary.

2)His American lover, born of an upper class Californian family.

3)Both in equal measure.

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For reference - the colourful Mrs Quinn originally relocated here to the UK in 1987 with her first husband, an American banker by the name of Fortier. He swears that the lady cheated on him with the current Mr Quinn, on whom she in turn cheated with Mr Blunkett.

She is at present on stress related leave of absence from her work with The Spectator Magazine until May next year.

[linskyjack]

Heck, if you guys are going to get yourself in a tizzy over that, then you would go absolutely looney if you lived in this country. Blair should be sent packing based strictly on Iraq--the rest is nonsense.

[Raeli]

How can you have a scandal concerning an MP that doesn't involve cross-dressing? I thought that was universal!

[bonzobob999]

Originally Posted by Raeli

How can you have a scandal concerning an MP that doesn't involve cross-dressing? I thought that was universal!

Blunkett is blind (literally) so he thinks he is cross dressing.

[RSM123]

Raeli,

The man (Blunkett) was a left wing socialist as a student - his whole ethos was 'human rights'. Now - 30 years later he finds himself in government he is the most right wing Home Sec we have had since WW2. He wants to introduce ID Cards (supposedly to fight terrorism - even though it won't be compulsiory to carry them ) Even if it was - what terrorist will get one in his own damned name ??

He 'hooks up' (to use an americanism) , 'has a bit of how's your father' (to use a Britishism ) It now appears that both her children are his - not her husband's Maybe I'm uniquely intolerant (though I doubt it ... but that would trouble me as her husband.)

Given that in the modern age - much is made of 'Women's Right's' - surely no woman would tolerate infidelity in her husband to the extent he fathered two children by another woman ??? How can that man stay with his wife ? I can't grasp it ? Most women would kick out their husband and talk to a lawyer (with a fairly strong case) - yet this man caves in and stays with his spouse !!!

As Linkskyjack stated - this whole issue - is small scale when contrasted with the ongoing situation vis a vis Iraq - however ... to me it typifies the 'Do as we say - not as we do' mentality of politicians.

Incidentally Raeli - the British 'vice' is not cross dressing' ... it's spanking - Luckily ACACandy as Site Admin is reputed to cater for such idiosyncracies

[linskyjack]

Hypocracy, thy name is Politician.