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Blunkett launches new Visa Fast-Track credit card
20 Dec 2004
David Blunkett, the former Home Secretary, hit back with a new scheme to win over the public today: his own branded credit card. The David Blunkett Visa Fast-Track card, which comes in an attractive red colour and with Mr Blunkett's face on, is described as a "must-have souvenir" of this year's hottest political scandal.
As well as all the usual credit card features, it also comes with biometric authentication and the chance to earn BlunkettPoints™ towards a free holiday to an exclusive Cuban resort.
When asked if this wasn't all a little demeaning, Mr Blunkett was characteristically forthright. "I feel it's important to reengage with the public," he said. "I'm not doing this to pay for my legal fees, certainly not. This is about an honest attempt to bring essential borrowing facilities to the general public."
He also refuted allegations that the whole scheme was an amusing and cruel joke. "Absolutely not, this is straight up," he said. "People said my anti-terror laws were a joke but they're not laughing now, are they?"
"They'd better not be," he added.
Mr Blunkett is not the first politician to offer merchandising. Immediately after the Second World War, Winston Churchill played on his success to sell his own brand of cigars. More recently, a Blankety Blank-style chequebook has been on offer from Neil Hamilton, Peter Mandelson lent his name to a textbook for estate agents, while Iain Duncan Smith was only too happy to be associated with a range of tea cosies, most of which are still available priced £5.99.
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