Blunkett: The young need father figures

David Blunkett today called on men to forge careers in childcare, and said young people needed father figures.

The Cabinet minister's speech appeared to echo his fight for access to his child born to former lover Kimberly Quinn.

Launching National Childcare Week, he said: "It is important for men to play a real part in raising children for the benefit of children, fathers and society as a whole.'

He added that men had a vital role to play in raising their own children, and "only two per cent of those currently working in childcare are men - yet there is much they can give to the profession and that it can give to them."

Mr Blunkett, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, was speaking at a south London centre for the Government's flagship Sure Start scheme, which aims to expand childcare provision and other support for children and parents.

The Government has promised to set up 2,500 children's centres by 2008 and will run a campaign this summer to attract more men to fill the 160,000 posts needed.