Blair denies using his children for political gain

Tory leader accuses Prime Minister of 'ruthless' exploitation

Tony Blair's children were thrust into a new political row yesterday as Downing Street rejected claims by Iain Duncan Smith, the Tory leader, that they were exploited "ruthlessly" by the Prime Minister.

Mr Blair's official spokes-man angrily denied Mr Duncan Smith's suggestion that the four children had been "used" by their father.

The Conservative leader triggered the controversy when he gave an interview to his local newspaper this week criticising Mr Blair's approach to the privacy of his family.

Mr Duncan Smith said he and his wife Betsy were determined to keep their own children – Edward, 14, Alice, 12, Harry, 11, and Rosanna, eight – out of the limelight.

"I think Tony Blair uses his children ruthlessly. Once you open the doors to your children it just gives the press an excuse for intrusion," he told the newspaper.

Although an official Conservative spokesman initially claimed Mr Duncan Smith had been misquoted, Central Office confirmed yesterday that "the quotes speak for themselves".

Eleanor Laing, the Tory education spokeswoman, also defended her leader's comments, claiming the Prime Minister's family photocalls were "all part of the Blair presidential image".

"As soon as we heard of Tony Blair as leader of the Labour Party we began to hear about his family as well," Mrs Laing told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

Downing Street said yesterday that Mr Blair was more interested in making his speech on education than getting into a "slanging match with the leader of the Opposition" about his children. "It's a matter for him to explain and justify his comments," Mr Blair's official spokesman said.

The spokesman said that protracted discussion between Downing Street, media editors and the Press Complaints Commission had resulted in an understanding that occasional photocalls would be granted with the children in return for them being left alone.

"Ever since he became a high-profile politician, there has been media interest in his family. That's a fact of life which he accepts. Equally, he and Mrs Blair have been very concerned to protect the privacy of their children and for them to have as normal a life as possible, free from intrusion," the spokesman said. "While we may have our run-ins with the press on other issues, in this regard we have had very few complaints.

"The idea that the Prime Minister and Mrs Blair now shut their children away with no media access whatsoever is unrealistic."

On the rare occasions when the "understanding" with the media has been breached, however, the Blairs have not hesitated to call in the Press Complaints Commission. They have made several complaints to the PCC over articles about their children, Euan, 18, Nicky, 16, Kathryn, 14, and one-year-old Leo.

Most recently, it upheld their complaint over a Daily Telegraph story about Euan applying for a place at an Oxford college.

Ever since Euan was filmed in 1994 for ITN during piano practice at the family home in Islington, the Blair children have been of interest to the media. The family have posed for photocalls just before Mr Blair became party leader, famously on the steps of Downing Street after his 1997 election landslide and on several holidays in Tuscany since.

In December 1998, Mr Blair's Christmas card featured himself surrounded by his wife Cherie and family. In May 2000, he announced the birth of Leo while holding a coffee mug decorated with a picture of his other children.

The most recent group photo was of the family walking to the polling station in Trimdon in Mr Blair's constituency on election day last June.

Downing Street has always insisted that most of the photo-opportunities stem from demands from the media and not from the Prime Minister's own wishes.

But critics point out that, as well as the group photos, it is Mr Blair's frequent reference to his status as a father that exposes him to the charge of hypocrisy.

In interviews with every media outlet from Parent magazine to Woman's Hour, the Prime Minister has talked of "the kids". "When I talk about education, I talk as a parent, I don't really talk as a politician," he said in 1994.

"I can't separate my politics from my own experience as a father, and the things I've done, wrong or right, for my kids are always at the back of my mind," he told Red magazine in May 2000.

Last night, however, senior Labour MPs said it was Mr Duncan Smith whose approach was the more controversial. "Isn't it ironic that we now have the Tory leader using Mr Blair's children for political ends?" said one MP.