Blair to miss Cook's wedding

Blair to miss Cook's wedding

THERE will be a notable absentee when Robin Cook, the Foreign Secretary, marries his partner and personal assistant Gaynor Regan on 19 April 19 - Tony Blair.

And, while Mr Cook ties the knot at Mr Cook's official residence of Chevening in Kent, the Prime Minister will be in Israel. Mr Blair will be seeking to ease the tensions between Britain and Israel strained by the Foreign Secretary's visit there two weeks ago, when Mr Cook made a visit to an Israeli settlement and was snubbed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Mr Blair and his wife Cherie are likely to be invited to a subsequent reception attended by a larger number of guests at the Foreign Secretary's official London home at Carlton House Terrace.