Students may see a familiar face on the campaign trail this month, as Union general manager Paul Blomfield brings his election bid to the city’s doorsteps.
Paul, who has worked for the University for over 20 years, has been instrumental in developing Sheffield’s Union into the best in the UK, and has been influential in local politics.
Paul first got involved in politics at the age of 16, when he became involved in the Anti-Apartheid Movement, campaigning against racism in South Africa.
He later became involved in the movement’s national leadership.
Paul went on to join the Labour party, eventually becoming Sheffield’s party chair, a position he held for 15 years.
He was selected as the candidate for the Sheffield Central constituency two years ago, although he insists he never had an eye on a seat in the Commons.
“When I was in school I thought political parties were a bit boring,” he said.
“It was never a career decision. I’ve spent more than 20 years putting leaflets through doors, talking to people on doorsteps and doing all the grass roots work that’s involved in politics without ever having any specific intention of standing for Parliament”.
If he is elected, Paul says he will work to restore public confidence in politicians.
“It’s clearly at a very low ebb after the expenses scandals which has obviously involved politicians of all parties.
“People aren’t saying I want you to rebuild trust in politics, what people are saying is ‘I’m fed up with all politicians’.
And I understand why, but for me the challenge is to change that culture so that people aren’t fed up with politicians.
“It probably requires constitutional change, it requires a change in mind-set in all political parties, and it requires a changed culture which I think every individual politician can play a part in.”
Labour’s main opposition in Sheffield Central comes from Lib Dem candidate Paul Scriven, currently leader of the city council.
Sheffield Central is South Yorkshire’s most marginal seat, with just over 5,000 votes between long standing Labour MP Richard Caborn and his Liberal Democrat opponent in the 2005 election.
Mr Caborn stood down from Parliament last week after 27 years at Westminster – 10 of which were as a Government Minister.
Because the seat is so vital to Labour, it is enjoying much attention from the party’s top brass.
In the last week, the constituency has been visited by Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Chancellor Alistair Darling, and Transport Minister Lord Adonis.
On Friday, Paul was joined on the campaign trail by Environment Secretary Ed Miliband, who was responsible for the party’s manifesto.
Michael Smith
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