Little in the way of light duties in PM's full diary

Published on Tuesday 21 October 2003 01:00

FOR a man supposedly on "light duties" Tony Blair’s diary yesterday was remarkably packed.

The Prime Minister’s spokesman said Mr Blair was not working at "full throttle" before proceeding to detail an agenda which included four scheduled meetings with Cabinet colleagues, receiving a delegation of half a dozen back-benchers and fielding numerous phone calls from wellwishers.

The day began with Mr Blair chairing the daily nine o’clock strategy meeting. This is normally attended by his chief of staff Jonathan Powell, his director of communications David Hill, Sally Morgan, his political director and Pat MacFadden, his political secretary. Depending on the day’s business, others such as Jeremy Heywood, Mr Blair’s principal private secretary, and Michael Barber, the head of the delivery unit, may also attend as will selected members of the Cabinet, such as the chief whip, Hilary Armstrong, and John Prescott, the Deputy Prime Minister.

In comparison with Mr Blair’s normal day, nine o’clock would be considered a sluggish start. A normal day would begin with an informal seven o’clock meeting with Baroness Morgan, sometimes conducted round the breakfast table in the Blairs’ flat above "the shop".

Throughout the day, Mr Blair would expect to take a non-stop stream of telephone calls from fellow statesman and political colleagues such as Jack McConnell, or senior Labour backbenchers.

Yesterday, Mr Blair went straight from the strategy meeting for his daily meeting with his Cabinet Secretary, Sir Andrew Turnbull.

This was followed by an unscheduled visit by John Scarlett, the chairman of the joint intelligence committee, who entered Downing Street shortly after 10:30am. Another unexpected visitor was the television cook Nigella Lawson, the daughter of the former Conservative Chancellor, who arrived at No 10 reportedly on business unassociated with Mr Blair or his wife Cherie.

Throughout the day, visitors will also have arrived through the "back door" - the more discreet entrance through the neighbouring Cabinet Office often used by ministers who do not want their every movement recorded by 24-hour news channels almost permanently stationed outside the front door of No 10.

Mr Blair prefers to conduct business in his small study known as the Den at the back of Downing Street, rather than in any of the building’s more formal rooms. The informal atmosphere is added to by the constant blurring of his home and work lives. Staff are accustomed to stepping over toys strewn by Leo around the building.

The only official business skipped by the Prime Minister yesterday was his statement to the House of Commons on the European Council in Brussels. While Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, stepped in as understudy, Mr Blair continued to hold a series of meetings throughout the afternoon. Among those seen entering Downing Street were Mr Prescott who arrived at 1:50pm for a half-hour meeting with Mr Blair and Alan Milburn, the former health secretary, who turned up at 1:57pm without commenting to reporters.

Mr Blair’s official spokesman said this amounted to a half day for the Prime Minister.

"He’s taken it easy. He’s not in the House for the statement. He was not working full throttle today," he said.

The spokesman stressed that it would be business as usual for the rest of the week, with Mr Blair back at his desk first thing this morning. In addition to holding a series of meetings, Mr Blair will also attend his regular audience with the Queen at 6:30 this evening.

The schedule for the rest of the week is characteristically hectic.

The Prime Minister intends to be in the House for Prime Minister’s Questions tomorrow before making a speech in London on the public services. On Thursday he will chair the weekly Cabinet meeting before subjecting himself to his monthly press conference. Immediately afterwards he will embark on a two-day tour to an undisclosed destination in the United Kingdom.