British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s father received an odd, impersonal response to a letter he sent his son congratulating him on being elected into government in 1997, the BBC revealed on Friday.
Tim Allan, a former Downing Street communications adviser, described the incident in a new BBC Radio 4 series, which is due to start on Monday.
Allan said Leo Blair wrote to his son “saying how proud he was of him and how he wished him all the best as he began this journey as prime minister”.
The letter was signed “your loving Pa”.
Allan said this letter was looked at quickly by the prime minister’s office, but it was unable to decipher much of the handwriting.
“And so, about a week after he sent it, Tony Blair’s father was at home and a letter arrived through the letterbox. And it was addressed to ‘Mr L Pa’,” said Allan.
“It said: ‘Dear Mr Pa. Thank you for your letter to the prime minister, the contents of which have been noted. Unfortunately we cannot take up your suggestion but we suggest you contact your local MP or Citizens Advice Bureau.”
Blair began a historic three-straight terms as head of a Labour Party government in May 1997 when his party ousted the Conservatives. — AFP