Blunkett says son has changed his name

Although many children of high-profile mothers and fathers are embarrassed by their parents' fame, few resort to changing their names to protect their anonymity.

But David Blunkett, the Home Secretary, yesterday revealed one of his three sons had taken drastic measures to keep his identity secret. He told a conference his prominence as a Cabinet minister had caused his children discomfort.

"I wasn't going to say this, because these things get out, but one of my sons who is doing a particular job has slightly altered his name so he doesn't get done over, he added. "I won't be saying what it is."

He recalled a joke about a girl who told school inspectors that her father was a drug dealer, because she was too ashamed to admit he was a High Court judge.

"I suppose you can take that joke and use Cabinet minister instead," he told a conference of the Home Start charity at the East Midlands Conference Centre, in Nottingham. "I know my children had trouble when they were growing up,"

Mr Blunkett is believed to have been referring to his 26-year-old son Alastair, an environmental health officer. His youngest son, Andrew, has just graduated from the University of Nottingham. The third, Hugh, works in information technology.