Blomfield, a backbench Labour MP, founded the all-party parliamentary group on students, which has allowed undergraduates to have their voices heard
Paul Blomfield, MP for Sheffield Central and secretary of the all-party parliamentary universities group, has been voted 2015’s most inspiring leader in higher education.
The aim of the award is to recognise inspirational leadership in the universities sector. The judges looked for people who champion innovation and collaboration, deliver change and inspire the confidence and support of the higher education community. The six shortlisted candidates were nominated by the judging panel, but the winner was chosen by popular vote.
Blomfield was elected to parliament in 2010 as MP for Sheffield Central. He is secretary of the all-party parliamentary universities group and chair of the all-party parliamentary group on students, which he founded. The group has provided an opportunity for parliamentarians to hear directly from students about policies which impact them, and to provide a route by which MPs can build link with students in their constituencies.
He has earned respect across the political parties for his interest in higher education and in particular his focus on international students and postgraduate students. He has also played an active role as a member of the Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) select committee, and is the parliamentary private secretary to Hilary Benn.
Blomfield has been a highly effective advocate for higher education and has shown that a backbench MP can make a difference, both in holding government to account and in making the case within his own party on policy, for example in relation to student visas. In June 2013, he secured a House of Commons debate on the value of international students to the UK, urging the government to remove international students from immigration targets.
Before he became an MP, Blomfield spent most of his working life at Sheffield University, where his last job was general manager. He was also chair of the Sheffield City Trust between 1997 and 2008 (a voluntary position), and when younger played an active role in the anti-apartheid movement.
