James William Beauchamp Blackett(born 17 October 1964) is a British politician, writer, landowner and political activist, who has served as leader of theAll for Unityparty from 2021, until the party's dissolution in 2022.[1]He has written articles appearing inThe Daily Telegraph,[2]The Spectator[3]and other publications.[4]He writes a monthly column, "Farming Life", forCountry Life.He is also a regular commentator onGB News.
Jamie Blackett | |
|---|---|
| Born | James William Beauchamp Blackett 17 October 1964 |
| Occupation | Writer, retired Army Officer |
| Nationality | British |
| Alma mater | Eton College |
| Notable works | The Enigma of Kidson Red Rag to a Bull Rural Life in an Urban Age |
| Spouse | Sheralyn |
| Children | 2 |
Early life and career
editEducated atEton College,Blackett served in theColdstream Guardsfrom 1983 to 2002, including service duringThe Troublesand the firstGulf War.In addition, he served as a Deputy Lieutenant forDumfriesshirefrom 2013 to 2020. Blackett has been a member of theRoyal Company of Archerssince 2012.
Blackett is a direct descendant ofChristopher BlackettofWylam Hall,Northumberland,founder ofThe Globe[5]newspaper, and entrepreneur behind the world’s oldest surviving steam enginePuffing Billy.
Literary career
editAlthough he writes mainly about rural matters, Blackett's first bookThe Enigma of Kidson[6]is a partly autobiographical portrait of teacherMichael Kidson,whose pupils atEton Collegeincluded former Prime MinisterDavid Cameron.In the book, Blackett describes being beaten by the Head,Michael McCrum,one of the last acts of corporal punishment at the school. It is currently[year needed]being adapted for the stage by playwrightHenry Filloux-Bennett.[7]
His books,Red Rag to a Bulland its sequelLand of Milk and Honeytell how he arrived home from military service to take overArbigland,an agricultural estate on theSolway FirthinDumfries and Gallowayto find a rapidly changing countryside. Set over 20 years through theScottish independencereferendum,hunting ban,Brexit,Coronavirus and the 2021 Scottish Parliamentary Elections, the books cover challenges threatening a way of life and an emerging rural philosophy in which farmers have greater freedom to manage the countryside.[8]
Political career
editIn 2020, Blackett became the Deputy Leader of the Alliance for Unity, a party which was founded byGeorge Gallowayto contest the2021 Scottish Parliament election.[9]The registered name of the party becameAll for Unity,with Blackett as the Leader and Galloway as the Nominating Officer[10]and Lead Spokesperson.[11]In the election, Galloway stood as the lead candidate, with Blackett as second, in theSouth Scotland electoral region.[12]He and Galloway spoke out against what they saw as the ‘Ulsterisation’ of Scotland, Blackett linking it to his first-hand experience as a soldier in Northern Ireland. Blackett later broke with Galloway and All for Unity was de-registered as a political party.[13]
References
edit- ^"Candidates for South Scotland".All for Unity News. 9 April 2021. Archived fromthe originalon 20 April 2021.Retrieved9 April2021.
- ^Blackett, Jamie."Struggling farmers have been abandoned by the Government".The Telegraph.Retrieved22 June2020.
- ^Blackett, Jamie."Beware the Rise of US Beef".The Spectator.Retrieved22 June2020.
- ^Blackett, Jamie."How farming has fallen from 'no finer investment' to fighting for its future".Country Life.Retrieved23 June2020.
- ^"Globe".British Newspaper Archive.Retrieved22 June2020.
- ^Schofield, Carey (5 August 2017),'The Enigma of Kidson: The Portrait of an Eton Schoolmaster', by Jamie Blackett, with a Foreword by Sir Matthew Pinsent – Review,The Speculator
- ^Kidd, Patrick (16 January 2021)."Eton master left his mark".The Times.ISSN0140-0460.Retrieved17 February2021.
- ^Redrup, Gemma (2 December 2018)."Oh God this is going to hurt".Horse and Hound.Retrieved22 June2020.
- ^Duffy, Judith (23 August 2020)."Deputy chief of George Galloway's Unionist party in astonishing anti-SNP rant".The National.Retrieved20 January2021.
- ^"View registration - The Electoral Commission".search.electoralcommission.org.uk.
- ^"Candidates for South Scotland".All for Unity News. 9 April 2021. Archived fromthe originalon 20 April 2021.Retrieved9 April2021.
- ^"South Scotland".All for Unity.Retrieved26 April2021.
- ^"All for Unity party collapses after George Galloway's Russia claims".The National.Retrieved21 April2023.