Tony Blair urged to pay back almost £10,000 for discounts on designer clothes, records show
Files show Downing Street concern over Blairs’ designer clothes deal
- Tony Blair was advised by No. 10 officials to repay thousands of pounds in discounts received on designer clothes while prime minister.
- Newly released official files from the National Archives reveal the recommendation for him to pay back over £7,600 for items from Nicole Farhi and Paul Smith.
- The significant discounts, up to 60 per cent, were negotiated by Cherie Blair’s style adviser, Carole Caplin, who purchased clothes for both Blairs.
- Officials expressed concern that such large discounts would not be available to ordinary members of the public and could negatively impact public perception.
- While Cherie Blair was deemed not to have received preferential treatment, Tony Blair was advised to repay the full amount for his clothes, and future suppliers were to sign confidentiality agreements.