Chancellor's wife gives birth to second son

By Ben Russell

Gordon Brown was celebrating last night after his wife Sarah gave birth to a baby boy.

The couple's third child was born at 9am yesterday, weighing 8lb. Mother and baby were said to be well. The boy is the Browns' second son. Their first son, John, who will be three in October, has visited his new brother.

The Browns' first child, Jennifer Jane, died aged 10 days after being born prematurely in 2002.

The couple have yet to announce the name of their baby, despite reports soon after his birth was announced that he would be named Gordon. Mr Brown will take two weeks' paternity leave in Scotland and spend the summer at his home north of the border.

Speaking at the G8 summit in St Petersburg, Tony Blair said: "My reaction to Gordon's good news is to wish him congratulations and say how delighted I am for him and Sarah and John and, of course, the new baby."

The Tory leader, David Cameron, and the Liberal Democrat leader, Sir Menzies Campbell, also sent congratulations.