Paul Blomfield
Encyclopedia
Paul Blomfield is a British
Labour Party
politician
who has been the Member of Parliament
(MP) for Sheffield Central since 2010. Twice Sabbatical President of the Students' Union at St John's College, York
, he was also a member of the National Executive Committees of both the National Union of Students and the Anti-Apartheid Movement
, the latter from 1979 to 1994. From 1997 to 2008, he was the Chairman of the Sheffield City Trust
, and was also the general manager
of the University of Sheffield Union of Students
.
in Sheffield
and Tadcaster Grammar School
. He received a certificate in education from York St John University
.
while still at school and continued to organise Anti-Apartheid activity as a student politician. In 1976 he travelled to South Africa
to meet local campaigners and learn about the apartheid system first hand. During this visit he was subject to surveillance by the South African Police and eventually decided to leave the country due to the risk this posed to the local anti-apartheid campaigners. He then went on to serve on the National Executive Committee of the Anti-Apartheid Movement from 1979 to 1994 when free elections were held in South Africa.
from 1994–1997, and its Chairman from 1997-2008. In this role he was responsible for the development of Sheffield International Venues
, Sheffield City Hall and the Sheffield Festival. During his tenure, he oversaw the organisation's expansion into venues such as Sheffield City Hall and the English Institute of Sport
.
of the University of Sheffield Union of Students
, he was responsible for establishing and maintaining its position as one of the leading Students' Unions in the UK; it won a number of awards over recent years, including "Best Students' Union in the UK".
He stepped down as general manager just before contesting the 2010 general election.
announced he would be standing down. He has been a longstanding opponent of tuition fees.
, the successful candidate, in the 2010 Labour Leadership election. On 9 October 2010, he was appointed the Parliamentary Private Secretary
to the Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
, Hilary Benn
, retaining the role when Benn was moved to become Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. He was also elected to sit on the Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee
, and later became Secretary of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Higher Education.. Blomfield underwent surgery to remove a benign brain tumour in August 2011, going on to make a full recovery.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who has been the Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for Sheffield Central since 2010. Twice Sabbatical President of the Students' Union at St John's College, York
York St John University
York St John University York St John University York St John University (formerly known variously as York St John University College (2004), York St John College (2001), Ripon and York St John: a College of the University of Leeds (c. 1996), University College of Ripon and York St John...
, he was also a member of the National Executive Committees of both the National Union of Students and the Anti-Apartheid Movement
Anti-Apartheid Movement
Anti-Apartheid Movement , originally known as the Boycott Movement, was a British organization that was at the center of the international movement opposing South Africa's system of apartheid and supporting South Africa's Blacks....
, the latter from 1979 to 1994. From 1997 to 2008, he was the Chairman of the Sheffield City Trust
Sheffield City Council
Sheffield City Council is the city council for the metropolitan borough of Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England. It consists of 84 councillors, elected to represent 28 wards, each with three councillors...
, and was also the general manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
of the University of Sheffield Union of Students
University of Sheffield Union of Students
-Aims:Its mission is to act in the interests of all our members and has a vision to be the outstanding student-led organisation in the UK. It was also voted best Higher Education Students' Union in the country at the first ever NUS awards ceremony in 2008....
.
Education
Born in Chatham, Paul Blomfield was educated at the Abbeydale Boys' Grammar SchoolAbbeydale Grange School
Abbeydale Grange School was a mixed comprehensive school set in a green site off Abbeydale Road, a short bus journey from Sheffield city centre. The school served both the local area and the wider multi-racial city community.- History :...
in Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
and Tadcaster Grammar School
Tadcaster Grammar School
Tadcaster Grammar School is a secondary school near Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, England founded in 1557 by Owen Oglethorpe as an all boys school. The school is no longer situated in the brewery town of Tadcaster, rather in the hamlet of Toulston just outside the town...
. He received a certificate in education from York St John University
York St John University
York St John University York St John University York St John University (formerly known variously as York St John University College (2004), York St John College (2001), Ripon and York St John: a College of the University of Leeds (c. 1996), University College of Ripon and York St John...
.
Anti-Apartheid Movement
He became involved in the Anti-Apartheid MovementAnti-Apartheid Movement
Anti-Apartheid Movement , originally known as the Boycott Movement, was a British organization that was at the center of the international movement opposing South Africa's system of apartheid and supporting South Africa's Blacks....
while still at school and continued to organise Anti-Apartheid activity as a student politician. In 1976 he travelled to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
to meet local campaigners and learn about the apartheid system first hand. During this visit he was subject to surveillance by the South African Police and eventually decided to leave the country due to the risk this posed to the local anti-apartheid campaigners. He then went on to serve on the National Executive Committee of the Anti-Apartheid Movement from 1979 to 1994 when free elections were held in South Africa.
Sheffield City Trust
Paul Blomfield was a trustee of Sheffield City TrustSheffield City Trust
Sheffield City Trust is a registered charity in the United Kingdom that owns and/or manages twelve entertainment and sports venues in Sheffield, England.-Charitable objectives:The Trust was established in 1988 with three charitable objects:...
from 1994–1997, and its Chairman from 1997-2008. In this role he was responsible for the development of Sheffield International Venues
Sheffield International Venues
Sheffield International Venues has grown rapidly over the past 10 years to become one of the largest sport, leisure and entertainment companies in Europe...
, Sheffield City Hall and the Sheffield Festival. During his tenure, he oversaw the organisation's expansion into venues such as Sheffield City Hall and the English Institute of Sport
English Institute of Sport
The English Institute of Sport , established in May 2002, is an organisation which provides sport science and medical support services to elite athletes through a nationwide network of expertise and facilities, working with Olympic and Paralympic summer and winter sports, as well as English and a...
.
University of Sheffield Union of Students
As general managerGeneral manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
of the University of Sheffield Union of Students
University of Sheffield Union of Students
-Aims:Its mission is to act in the interests of all our members and has a vision to be the outstanding student-led organisation in the UK. It was also voted best Higher Education Students' Union in the country at the first ever NUS awards ceremony in 2008....
, he was responsible for establishing and maintaining its position as one of the leading Students' Unions in the UK; it won a number of awards over recent years, including "Best Students' Union in the UK".
He stepped down as general manager just before contesting the 2010 general election.
Labour Party
Paul was the Chair of Sheffield District Labour Party from 1993 to 2009, resigning the position in order to fight the Sheffield Central at the 2010 general election, after long-serving MP Richard CabornRichard Caborn
Richard George Caborn PC is a British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Sheffield Central from 1983 to 2010...
announced he would be standing down. He has been a longstanding opponent of tuition fees.
In Parliament
At the 2010 general election, Paul Blomfield was elected as the MP for Sheffield Central. He was one of the first MPs to nominate Ed MilibandEd Miliband
Edward Samuel Miliband is a British Labour Party politician, currently the Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition...
, the successful candidate, in the 2010 Labour Leadership election. On 9 October 2010, he was appointed the Parliamentary Private Secretary
Parliamentary Private Secretary
A Parliamentary Private Secretary is a role given to a United Kingdom Member of Parliament by a senior minister in government or shadow minister to act as their contact for the House of Commons; this role is junior to that of Parliamentary Under-Secretary, which is a ministerial post, salaried by...
to the Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
Leader of the House of Commons
The Leader of the House of Commons is a member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom who is responsible for arranging government business in the House of Commons...
, Hilary Benn
Hilary Benn
Hilary James Wedgwood Benn is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Leeds Central since 1999. He served in the Cabinet as Secretary of State for International Development from 2003 to 2007 and as the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs...
, retaining the role when Benn was moved to become Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. He was also elected to sit on the Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is a ministerial department of the United Kingdom Government created on 5 June 2009 by the merger of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform .-Ministers:The BIS...
, and later became Secretary of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Higher Education.. Blomfield underwent surgery to remove a benign brain tumour in August 2011, going on to make a full recovery.