Democracy without education for citizenship equals a road to extremism

We are pleased to announce that the speaker at the 2015 Priestley Lecture will be the Rt Hon Lord David Blunkett.

Biography

David Blunkett – Rt Hon Lord Blunkett of Brightside and Hillsborough in the City of Sheffield from the autumn of 2014 – was Member of Parliament for Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough1987-2015, and a member of Tony Blair’s Cabinet for eight years from 1997.

His responsibilities as Secretary of State covered the Home Office (including counter terrorism, immigration and justice), Education and Employment (covering communication and skills from early years, schooling, post sixteen skills and apprenticeships, higher education and equal opportunities) and as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions his responsibilities covered retirement income, welfare benefits and Job Centre Plus and work programmes.

Formerly Leader of England’s fourth largest city (Sheffield), David has had a wide range of experiences over 43 years in public life as well as in the private sector.

In the spring of 2015 he took up the post of Professor of Politics in Practise, at the University of Sheffield (Department of Politics Crick Centre), and in June that year became Chair of the University of Law.  David is also an Academician of the Academy of Social Sciences.

As a board member of the National Citizens Service Trust, he has had a long standing interest in citizenship education and the well being of young people.  In the summer of 2015 he joined the David Ross Multi Academy Educational Trust which he now chairs.

As well as supporting a wide range of charitable endeavours (as trustee, vice president and patron) he is also a familiar speaker, author and media contributor (including both radio and television).

David who has been blind since birth, experienced hardship when at the age of twelve he lost his father in a works accident.

Educated at evening class (and on day release from work) he entered the University of Sheffield as a mature student graduating in 1972 and taking a post graduate certificate in education and holds a national certificate in Business Studies.

Married, with four sons and three step daughters, he enjoys the countryside, reading and good food.

Venue

Vaughan Jefferys Lecture Theatre, School of Education

Time

17:30 - 19:00

Please register online if you wish to attend.

If you have any access requirements, please contact Caroline Baxter, PA to Head of School (c.a.p.baxter@bham.ac.uk)

Sir Raymond Priestley was the Vice-Chancellor of The University of Birmingham from 1938 to 1952. He was a great supporter of the education of teachers and in 1959 it was decided to name this annual lecture after him.