Blunkett barred from Paralympics seat because of guide dog
FORMER Home Secretary David Blunkett has spoken of his anger after he was told he could not take his seat for the Paralympics Opening Ceremony, because he had his GUIDE DOG with him.
The Labour MP, who has been blind since birth, had been invited to the extravaganza as a guest of broadcaster Channel 4.
But when the 65-year-old arrived at his allocated spot with his dog Cosby, a Games official told him he was not allowed to sit there.
He was then moved to an area he said was "very exposed and windy".
He told the Daily Mail: "As I walked to my seat, an official said, ‘Sorry, you can’t take your dog down there.’
"So I asked why not, and he said, ‘It’s just not suitable.’ I said that was his judgment not mine, and asked why we didn’t make a decision together instead?
"That was the point when the official got quite stroppy. He said to me, ‘You are not taking your dog down there. We will find you different seats.’
"I had to draw a breath and decide whether or not to have a hissy fit.
"I would have done on a different occasion, but I bit my tongue. As a high-profile guide dog user, I very rarely have a problem.
"It was quite novel actually, as usually I am taking up the cause for other people who have suffered prejudice or discrimination by having their dogs refused entry to taxis and restaurants. I haven’t had a problem for many, many years, which is why I find it quite shocking.
"After a while, they magicked up some chairs and said we could sit on those. But it was behind the TV cameras and was very exposed and windy. It wasn’t what we had envisaged at all.
"Before we walked into the stadium, we had been treated very well. I cannot fault it. It is such a pity that it happened."
Mr Blunkett, MP for Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough said he wanted Games' organisers to learn from his experience.
He said: "This isn’t just about me. This is about getting it right.
"I want Games organisers to learn a lesson for the future so that people with guide dogs can be treated as equals."
A spokesman for Locog told the Daily Mail: "We are aware of the issue and we are looking into the circumstances."
