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Blunkett admits nearing breakdown Blunkett admits nearing breakdown
(about 9 hours later)
David Blunkett has admitted being close to a mental breakdown at the time an affair with publisher Kimberly Quinn led to him resigning as home secretary.David Blunkett has admitted being close to a mental breakdown at the time an affair with publisher Kimberly Quinn led to him resigning as home secretary.
"At one point, I really did think I was going mad," he told the Daily Mail."At one point, I really did think I was going mad," he told the Daily Mail.
"I was barely sleeping and yet I was being asked to sign government warrants in the middle of the night.""I was barely sleeping and yet I was being asked to sign government warrants in the middle of the night."
He said he was "probably clinically depressed" after quitting the Cabinet in 2004 over the fast-tracking of a visa application by Mrs Quinn's nanny.He said he was "probably clinically depressed" after quitting the Cabinet in 2004 over the fast-tracking of a visa application by Mrs Quinn's nanny.
He also told the Mail that Tony Blair knew from "the very beginning" about the affair with married Mrs Quinn. He also told the Mail that Tony Blair knew from "the very beginning" about the affair with Mrs Quinn.
"I owed it to him. I didn't want him to find out via the security services," Mr Blunkett said."I owed it to him. I didn't want him to find out via the security services," Mr Blunkett said.
He said that the prime minister said about the affair: "Try and work it through. I will stand by you."He said that the prime minister said about the affair: "Try and work it through. I will stand by you."
My whole world was collapsing around me David BlunkettMy whole world was collapsing around me David Blunkett
Mr Blunkett later took legal action to gain access to Mrs Quinn's elder child William, who he claims is his son, while DNA tests proved he was not the father of younger son Lorcan.Mr Blunkett later took legal action to gain access to Mrs Quinn's elder child William, who he claims is his son, while DNA tests proved he was not the father of younger son Lorcan.
The then-home secretary tape-recorded memoirs during the period, which are now being serialised in the Mail and Guardian newspapers.The then-home secretary tape-recorded memoirs during the period, which are now being serialised in the Mail and Guardian newspapers.
"I hadn't realised until I went back and listened to the tapes just how dark things were, just how depressed I think I was," he told the Mail."I hadn't realised until I went back and listened to the tapes just how dark things were, just how depressed I think I was," he told the Mail.
"My whole world was collapsing around me. I was under the most horrendous pressure.""My whole world was collapsing around me. I was under the most horrendous pressure."
Mr Blunkett said that after his resignation he rejected a House of Commons doctor's recommendation of anti-depressants and therapy.Mr Blunkett said that after his resignation he rejected a House of Commons doctor's recommendation of anti-depressants and therapy.
"I wanted to get through it in my own way, with the help of my family and friends. I've done that, and I owe them everything.""I wanted to get through it in my own way, with the help of my family and friends. I've done that, and I owe them everything."
Marjorie Wallace, chief executive of the mental health charity Sane, said: "As he portrays it, the illness is not only distressing but severely disabling and the isolation he describes is the most intensely felt symptom told to us by our many thousands of callers.
"However, with time and understanding most people can recover and by speaking out Mr Blunkett will make others feel less desperate and alone."
Blair's legacyBlair's legacy
In a Guardian interview, Mr Blunkett expressed regret over the presentation of intelligence to the public ahead of the Iraq war.In a Guardian interview, Mr Blunkett expressed regret over the presentation of intelligence to the public ahead of the Iraq war.
"I did not take enough notice because I was home secretary, and I did not argue enough about what we were doing presentationally about the dossiers," he said."I did not take enough notice because I was home secretary, and I did not argue enough about what we were doing presentationally about the dossiers," he said.
He added: "The main task for us all is to make sure that in years to come Iraq is not seen as [Mr Blair's] legacy."He added: "The main task for us all is to make sure that in years to come Iraq is not seen as [Mr Blair's] legacy."
Instead it should be "the complete transformation of Britain's economic, social and political culture".Instead it should be "the complete transformation of Britain's economic, social and political culture".
Mr Blunkett also said that Gordon Brown remained clear favourite to succeed Mr Blair as Labour leader and prime minister.Mr Blunkett also said that Gordon Brown remained clear favourite to succeed Mr Blair as Labour leader and prime minister.
"Not much has changed despite the arguments that have been going on in recent weeks," he said."Not much has changed despite the arguments that have been going on in recent weeks," he said.
He said the test for Mr Brown as leader would be whether "the rounded Gordon I have seen can come through".He said the test for Mr Brown as leader would be whether "the rounded Gordon I have seen can come through".
"No-one expects him somehow to change those who have been at his side for many years. That would be unthinkable."No-one expects him somehow to change those who have been at his side for many years. That would be unthinkable.
"But I think all his best friends are advising him to broaden the church.""But I think all his best friends are advising him to broaden the church."