Very shortly, perhaps even by the time you read this, Cherie and Tony Blair will become the proud parents of a bouncing, fourth baby. Mrs Blair went into hospital yesterday and when she and Tony return to Downing Street with their little bundle of joy, the reality of endless nappies, sleepless nights and colic might be enough to make the Prime Minister take formal paternity leave after all. Just like John F. and Jacqueline Kennedy before them, the new baby will arrive while Tony occupies the highest office in the land.
The birth of the Blair child is eagerly awaited in media land, but what is Tony likely to tell his child about mum's and dad's lives, loves and professions? The Baby Book - Preparing for the Birth
MAY, 17th 2000: Just a few more days to go and Cherie felt a little twinge. It was all stations go at No 11. Uncle Alastair (you'll hear a lot more about him) prepared a birth announcement for the press, but in the end it was a false alarm and we got back to Downing Street feeling rather relieved.
What with all the trouble in Sierra Leone and the Ulster Unionists still making their minds up about their meeting on Saturday, I was a bit worried I might have to dash to Belfast and leave John Prescott to run the country. Had a sleepless night just thinking about it.
May 19th, 2000: Coup in Fiji. Mummy and I put your name down for a primary school in Islington.
Thank goodness. The Ulster Unionists postponed their meeting until next week which Uncle Peter thought was better for all concerned. We told Mr Trimble we'd give him all the support he needed, but made it quite clear it was all up to him now. Wonder if David will still be around in a couple of weeks? Made a note to bring Uncle Peter back to London in the summer. It's not good for him living in that draughty castle with only Bobby the labrador for company.
Your mummy gave me a hard time about paternity leave.
Hello, Baby!
A few days later: Well, what can I say? It was amazing. Truly amazing. Although the timing was a bit off, out you popped and the doctors and nurses burst into a round of applause.
When I held you in my arms for the first time I whispered in your ear: "A lot done, a lot still to do."
As a slogan it didn't work very well in the local council elections but I thought Uncle Alastair got it just right, even if the voters didn't think so. Dashed from the hospital and made it just in time for Prime Minister's Questions.
Mr Hague (you probably won't be hearing much more about him) congratulated mummy and me and then started banging on about law and order and asylum-seekers. I reminded him (again) that we were the government and, anyway, we could lock up more asylum-seekers than the Conservatives could any day.
Just as Charles Kennedy was about to get up and give one of his boring speeches about constitutional reform, the Labour faithful on the back benches intervened. Spent the rest of Question Time cooing over the latest (and maybe not the last!) addition to the Blair dynasty.
Gordon just scowled and Mr Hague squirmed in his seat. Wondered if Ffion would ever have a baby?
Got home very late. E-mail from Charles and Camilla congratulating us on your birth. Her Majesty sent a hand-written letter and Uncle Alastair posted it on the Downing Street Website for everyone to read.
Baby's First Word
Visiting Hilary and Bill in New York. It was 3 a.m. in London and mummy put you on the telephone so I could hear your first word. Gurgles and bubbles and then you said "mama." Promised mummy I would take a few weeks off and said maybe we could go back to Tuscany.
The Christening
Uncle Peter and Uncle Alastair were beside themselves at the thought of being godparents. The christening was held at a church close to our old house in Islington. No press, but Uncle Alastair fixed it so that a few discreet photographs appeared the next day in the August issue of New Woman magazine. Uncle Peter bought mummy a Bill Amberg fur-lined leather papoose. For his present, Gordon said he would put £5 a week into a bank account.
General Election 2001
Brought you on the campaign trail. Lots of photographs in the newspapers the next day of mummy and I kissing you on the head. We pinned a Labour red rosette on your pram.
Against my better judgment I allowed Ken Livingstone back into the party. Perhaps I was going soft, but "better the devil you know" I always say. Things were going well in the UK. Devolution in Wales and Scotland had settled down. Northern Ireland was still giving me a few sleepless nights. Heard a whisper that Lord Archer was thinking of standing as Lord Mayor of Belfast. More trouble for the Tories!
The euro
Just after the 2005 election we decided to join the euro. The Conservatives had so few seats in parliament that there was hardly a peep out of them. Even Mr Hague and Ffion, who by that time had been banished to Wales, couldn't muster more than a murmur of opposition.
We put your name down for Oxford where Bill Clinton was visiting lecturer in politics, philosophy and law. King Charles and his consort, Camilla (Queen Elizabeth had it written into her will that Camilla couldn't become queen) said it was a good choice.
Future career
After a long day at the office - in fact nearly 10 years - you came in and said you wanted to follow mummy into the law. We asked our good friend and former law colleague, Derry Irvine, to fix it up.
Uncle Alastair, who was by now deputy prime minister, immediately telephoned his contacts in the newspapers and everybody said what a good choice you had made.
Uncle Peter telephoned. Made a note to bring Uncle Peter back to London in the summer . . .