David Blunkett led Sheffield City Council for seven years...

...before entering the Commons as MP for Sheffield Brightside in 1987.

In Tony Blair's first government, he served as Education and Employment Secretary.

Mr Blunkett, who is blind from birth and uses Braille for speeches, is always accompanied by his guide dog.

In 2004 as home secretary he fought a legal battle to prove he was the father of his former lover Kimberly Quinn's first son.

Mr Blunkett, pictured with Ms Quinn, was also accused of "fast-tracking" a visa application for his ex-lover's nanny.

In December of that year an e-mail emerged relating to the visa application, it read, "no favours but slightly quicker". Blunkett resigned, though insisted he had done nothing wrong.

In 2005 Blunkett was back in the cabinet as Work and Pensions Secretary. But by late 2005 he was under pressure after breaking the ministerial code of conduct.

Downing Street stood by Mr Blunkett's ability to continue in his job, despite making a "mistake". Eventually though he resigned from the government for a second time in a year.

At a press conference David Blunkett said said he was guilty of making a mistake on three occasions and was now "paying the price for it".