Court rules on Blunkett

David Blunkett's battle for access to his ex-lover's child is set for a dramatic conclusion at the High Court today.

The Home Secretary's secret legal fight will become public for the first time when a judge rules on the case.

Mr Blunkett wants Kimberly Quinn to give him the right to see two-year-old William. Mrs Quinn is seven months pregnant with her second child.

The couple's three-year affair ended acrimoniously this year but Mr Blunkett is determined not to be excluded from the child's life.

A private DNA test has already established that he is William's father but the court may order a fresh test that would have full legal force.

Court documents reveal that the case has been brought under magazine publisher Mrs Quinn's name from her first marriage, Kimberly Fortier. Mr Blunkett is also named.

The minister is already under intense pressure over allegations that he fast-tracked a visa application for 44-year-old Mrs Quinn's Filipino nanny.

Mr Justice Ryder was today holding a judgment hearing in an open session of the High Court Family Division, reports claimed.

Any child involved in family court proceedings is normally guaranteed anonymity but Mr Justice Ryder has decided to open up the court in the public interest, according to reports.

The hearing was expected to reveal yet more personal details of Mr Blunkett's private life but friends claim he is prepared to put his family before his political career.

Mr Blunkett, who was not attending the hearing, was spending today in his Sheffield constituency, bolstered by support from his friends and political colleagues.

Chancellor Gordon Brown today gave his full support to the Home Secretary. He said: "He will continue because he is doing a great job. David will be getting on with the job, even today.

"He's a man of great character and great integrity.

He will keep doing his job to

the best of his ability, and the best of his ability is a great credit to the country."

A Home Office spokesman said: "We do not discuss ministers' private lives."

Friends of Mrs Quinn and her husband Stephen, 60, have claimed that Mr Blunkett fast-tracked a visa application for William's nanny Leoncia Casalme.

Home Office Permanent Secretary John Gieve has ordered an inquiry into the claims, to be led by former government adviser Sir Alan Budd. Mr Blunkett insists he has done nothing wrong but a high-profile court battle is likely to complicate his position further.

Mr Quinn pleaded for his wife to be left alone after she was admitted to hospital suffering from stress. He

added last night that she was "not terribly well" and he was not sure when she would leave hospital. He said she was "very distressed" that Ms Casalme had told her story to the media. He added: "The issue really is that when Kimberly has her next child in February and when she can be rational, together and reasonable, we will deal with this."