The Blunkett Tapes: My Life in the Bear Pit

Blunkett's comments on the million-strong anti-war march of 2003 take the biscuit. He commends Blair for his resoluteness in the face of what Blunkett calls the marchers' "bellicosity"! So stupid that he cannot even acknowledge that it was his leader Blair and his cabinet of lackeys, including himself,that were being 'bellicose', lying for an unnecessary war so that Blair could get a Congressional 'Medal of Honour' for services to George W. Bush.

Quite entertaining (3/3 people found this helpful)

As happens so often I don't get films that are oscar winners, but enjoy critically panned ones. The same is true often for books. I enjoyed the way David Blunkett used original diaries and then commented on them. I did think they are too long, but nevertheless for an element of selective insight into this government it was quite enjoyable.

rebarbative nonsense (3/5 people found this helpful)

A diary is meant to be something of an exploration into a well-known persons private thoughts, aspirations and fears. moreover, their meant to be self aware and self critical. Blunkett, however, neglects these points stunningly. What one is left with is a chunky tome of conceited drivel. [...]. self-awareness - awareness of ones own faillings - is key to any stimulating diary. [...]. I must confess that i only got one hundred pages through the Blunkett tapes, reading the other pages in a desultory fashion. The book is sickeningly bad! the true low-point comes when he attends a convivial lunch with the dastardly Ruper Murdoch - makes your flesh crawl!

Boring , tedious (8/10 people found this helpful)

God - how this book goes on through endless tedious pages of self -justification! There should be a silver star for anybody who believes what is ghost-written and a gold star for anyone who finishes this boring tome. Complete waste of time - if someone gave you this as a Christmas present you will certainly know that you have upset them! It just shows that lack of ( literary) ability is no bar to the higher branches of government.

In the land of the short-sighted the blind politician is king... (10/15 people found this helpful)

Once upon a time, if a working class lad REALLY wanted to get on in life, he grafted his way into a good grammar school, became an apprentice or maybe even hustled his way into a career in the City or Fleet Street (via the mail room of course). Oh how times of changed...

Today, an arriviste working class lad has another option: become a second rate politican. In fact, all those 'yoots' out there dreaming of getting paid 'large' should forget about football, hip-hop or tabloid exposure as the route one to fame and fortune and follow Blunkett's guide to making it. Women, power, big guns, dangerous dogs (well, a Labrador-cross actually) - Blunkett's done it all and thus should have nuff respec' on road... He's well and truly a 'soldier,' you get me?

In all seriousness, unless you count trousering hundreds of thousands of pounds for producing reams of sleep inducing tosh (aside from his other 'achievements') Blunkett and his literary effort are no example to set to the legion of British youths who lack jobs, prospects and future. The man should be ashamed of himself, having sold out his class credentials and turned his back on millions of people that are in desperate need for genuine working class heroes.

My advice to any potential reader/buyer: fast-forward past The Blunkett Tapes, pause for thought, then erase this man from your memory...

The Blunkett Tapes: My Life in the Bear Pit

David Blunkett

Reader Reviews:

A tedious waste of space (0/3 people found this helpful)

Quite entertaining (3/3 people found this helpful)

rebarbative nonsense (3/5 people found this helpful)

Boring , tedious (8/10 people found this helpful)

In the land of the short-sighted the blind politician is king... (10/15 people found this helpful)

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