Cherie speaks for herself
Cherie Blair thought that Downing St officials had compiled a report into her spending on clothes which they were refusing to show her.
According to her recent memoirs, this followed a row between her and the Cabinet Secretary Andrew Turnbull over discounts which the cost-conscious Mrs Blair had obtained from various clothing suppliers. A private secretary was then tasked with investigating the matter. 'A report was apparently written and presented, but, in spite of several requests, I never got a glimpse of it', writes Mrs Blair (p346 of 'Speaking for Myself').
I had hoped to obtain a copy of this report myself, which I could then have passed on to Mrs Blair, possibly asking for her comments in the process. But my FOI request for it has been turned down by the Cabinet Office on the grounds that they do not hold the information sought. The Histories, Openness and Records Unit tells me that they can find no evidence that there ever was such a report.
According to your own views, you may now consider that this little mystery has either been cleared up or is getting murkier.
A 
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~39~RS~)
Comments
Sign in or register to comment.
I would like to think government official wouldn't lie to cover up something so trivial.
Complain about this comment
With everyone watching MPs expenses, do you really think that the government is going to release a report - or even admit to there being a report - detailing how much public money has been spent buying clothes for someone whose only connection to government is her husband?
Wait for a "good day to bury bad news" and it will slip out, like just after Labour get trashed in a by-election
Complain about this comment
Martin,
I'm sorry, I'm a little confused. Was the reason behind this because Mrs Blair was spending public money on clothes? Or using her position as the PM's wife to obtain discounts?
If not and she was using her own money, I can't see why anyone in government would care....
Complain about this comment
Sorry, meant to say "was she abusing her position..."
Complain about this comment
It's not to do with spending public money on her clothes.
She had to tell civil servants that she had received no special favours and the discounts she'd been given were 'standard for people in the public eye'.
Andrew Turnbull wanted her to repay the discounts anyway.
She told him not to interfere.
Complain about this comment
Ah I see, thanks very much for getting back to me!
Complain about this comment
"Cost-Conscious" is not a phrase that readily springs to mind when that woman's name gets mentioned.
`Greedy old -------`, is more like it.
Complain about this comment
Cherie speaks for herself?
As far as I am concerned - Cherie Blair speaks TO herself
Complain about this comment
View these comments in RSS