Hey, Mr Brightside

"When I was a lad, the only impact interest rates had on working families was the cost of hire purchase on a new mangle," observes that little lad David Blunkett in his atrocious, sub-Polly Hudsonesque column in the Sun this morning. "The now-independent Bank of England is there to look after all of us - not just the overpaid City money men who react to every unforeseen event like the girls of St Trinians when they have spotted a mouse."

Leaving aside the fact that whoever talked him through what was happening in the St Trinian's films was clearly lying lest the old goat get over-excited and start trying to foist his babies on anyone in grabbing distance yet again, let's just have a look at the Register of Members' Interests and see how much, in addition to his £60,675 salary and all those lovely parliamentary allowances, Beardie's pulling in at the moment, shall we?

BLUNKETT, Rt. Hon. David (Sheffield, Brightside)
1. Remunerated directorships
HADAW Productions and Investments Ltd, to which is payable income from:
Making available to, and granting rights relating to, the Blunkett Tapes - Juniper Productions for Channel 4. (£10,001-£15,000)
Advising and taking part in the Blunkett Tapes for Juniper Productions for Channel 4. (£10,001-£15,000)
Guardian and Daily Mail joint serialisation of Blunkett Tapes. (£100,001-£105,000)
April 2007, preparing for presentation for Channel 5 programme for 'Big Ideas That Changed the World' series. (Up to £5,000) (Registered 24 April 2007)
Chair of Commission on School Transport - First Group Ltd (phased payments £20,001-£25,000)
I have not yet drawn down any income from this directorship.

2. Remunerated employment, office, profession etc
Weekly column for The Sun newspaper commencing 3 August 2007 (renewal of contract). (£101,000-£105,000)
Chair of International Advisory Committee to Entrust Inc. (from 1 March 2007); company providing internet security systems. (£25,001-£30,000)
22 March 2007, fee for speaking engagement at Pet Food Manufacturers Annual Conference. (Up to £5,000) (Registered 4 April 2007)
10 May 2007, Sky Television appearance. (Up to £5,000) (Registered 24 May 2007)
6 June 2007, fee for speech on security and risk management from the Association of Insurance and Risk Management. (£5,001-£10,000) (Registered 4 July 2007)
9 October 2007, speaking engagement for Institute of Revenues Rating and Valuation Conference. (£5,001-£10,000) (Registered 1 November 2007)
7 December 2007, speaking engagement for annual event organised by Green Issues Communications. (£5,001-£10,000) (Registered 7 December 2007)
21 December 2007, Granada TV 'What the Papers Say' speaking engagement. (Up to £5,000) Fee paid to the Weston Park Hospital Cancer Appeal, Sheffield. (Registered 21 December 2007)

6. Overseas visits
25-30 November 2007, to Israel and Palestine with Labour Friends of Israel (LFI). Travel and hospitality paid for by LFI. Accommodation paid for by LFI at a rate discounted through the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Some hospitality provided by the Palestinian Legislative Council/Palestinian Authority. Travel within Israel/Palestine provided by LFI. (Registered 5 December 2007)

8. Land and Property
Second home in London, from which I temporarily receive rental income

which by my calculations works out at up to £345 grand, not including whatever he's getting from that house he's been "temporarily" getting cash from for as long as I can remember. Nice work if you can get it. The good folk of Sheffield Brightside must be so proud.