UK News 15-12-2004 Blunkett`s Visa Scandal Number Two who: Home Secretary David Blunkett what: Helped lover`s nanny get a visa to travel to Austria, claims Daily Mail when: Today snippet: "David Blunkett is today facing fresh allegations that a second visa application was `fast-tracked` for his former lover`s Filipino nanny," says The Daily Mail`s website this morning. "Kimberly Quinn`s nanny, Leoncia Casalme, obtained a visa to visit her sister in Austria - which would normally have taken four weeks to process - in just days." "Mr Blunkett is already fighting for his political life after Mrs Quinn, who had a three-year affair with him, claimed he speeded up a permanent UK visa for her nanny," explains The Sun. "The fresh accusation is said to have emerged during Sir Alan Budd`s probe into the initial claims after he interviewed Mrs Quinn. Sir Alan is due to report within days." But according to the BBC, the Home Office has conclusively denied the Mail`s fresh allegation, saying it was "crystal clear" Mr Blunkett did not help with the Austrian visa. "Kimberly Quinn told the home secretary there was a problem with a visa for her nanny`s trip to Austria," says a spokesman, quoted by the BBC. "But neither the home secretary nor any of his officials became involved in the matter." [... more]

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