David Blunkett has denied suggestions from the Mail on Sunday that he is set to advise the coalition government on welfare reform.

In a post on his blog this morning, the Sheffield MP said "The notion that I will 'advise' David Cameron, Nick Clegg or anyone in the Government is false. I have not sought, nor will I seek, to take up a coalition role.", although he said he was considering an unpaid advisory position with conservative think-tank the Centre for Social Justice.

The CSJ was set up by former Conservative party leader Iain Duncan-Smith, now Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. Mr Blunkett said: "Now that Iain Duncan Smith is the Work and Pensions Secretary and has obviously severed his links with the Centre for Social Justice, the CSJ is seeking a greater degree of independence and has approached me to see if I would be prepared to act as an advisor.

"I have asked the CSJ to come back with a proposition for a role for me, on an unpaid, informal basis. There is no question of paid work being involved."

Mr Duncan-Smith stepped down as director of the CSJ last month, as did Executive Director Philippa Stroud, who the Observer alleged had run prayer sessions to ‘cure’ gay people. She is now Mr Duncan-Smith's special advisor.
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