Blair revealed loss of baby to avert Iraq panic

by Dave Keating | May 12, 2008 at 01:00 am | 107 views | add comment | 0 recommendations

It's interesting to see how the different papers are reporting this revelations from Mrs. Blair's new book. The right-wing papers are saying Tony Blair used the miscarriage news "for Iraq spin" while the left-leaning papers are saying the news was released to 'avoid an Iraq panic' In the Guardian:

Cherie Blair has revealed that her husband and former prime minister decided to make a public announcement about her miscarriage to avoid public panic over invasion of Iraq.

Writing in her autobiography, Speaking For Myself, Blair describes how her husband and his press chief, Alastair Campbell, decided to tell the press that she had lost the baby she was carrying almost immediately.

In 2002 the Blairs were due to take a holiday to France and the prime minister feared that any delay or cancellation without explanation could trigger false speculation that an invasion of Iraq was imminent.

Shortly after she had told her husband of the miscarriage, Blair says her husband broke the news to the rest of the family and then told Campbell.

The pair then called her back to say that, with speculation mounting that troops could be sent to Iraq, it could send the wrong signal if they just cancelled the holiday and decided to tell the press.

And on the other end, in the Telegraph:

Cherie Blair discloses today that she "could not believe" news of her miscarriage was released early for political reasons, such was the obsession with media management among the former Prime Minister’s inner circle.
In the latest extracts from her memoirs, Mrs Blair says she spoke to Alistair Campbell, the Prime Minister’s media chief, within hours of the miscarriage in 2002.

Mr Blair and Mr Campbell told her that they would be announcing news of the loss to avert false speculation about an early invasion of Iraq.