Cherie Blair (or rather the Labour Party) spent £275 per DAY on her hair ...?!

[roisin]

\link{http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4929026.stm\is this for real?}

I read in the Guardian today that Labour Party HQ are stressing that she paid herself. If so, then I don't care. But the BBC said it was an expense claim.

So what's the truth then? Anyone know definitively?

I believe that much of Cherie's adverse publicity stems from the fact that no previous PM's spouse has interpreted the role in an American First Lady style; her predecessors have remained in the background. There is some disquiet (I certainly feel it) about the undue prominence of an unelected spouse.

Why should the PM's wife have any role at all? I believe there is some value to the traditional PM's spouse role of handing out tea and sandwiches and making polite uncontroversial conversation, but could it not be done by a civil servant - someone who had been a senior personal secretary in a Government department would probably be better at it than a high-profile lawyer. (Sleeping with the PM would of course not be in the job description. An Official PM's Wife role could even be filled by a man, which would have the side benefit of annoying Robert Mugabe).

LOL at annoying Robert Mugabe.

I nominate Peter Tatchell for the role

Great idea, Caligula. Particularly as I don't think Tony Blair would be very happy about it either!

Oh, we so have to have a gay PM next time in order to annoy Robert Mugabe, definitely.
No-one has mentioned John Ligga Prescott in this melee of old vs new Labour snouts in the trough, I see Mr Two Jags proudly maintaining the Union tradition of sending back the catering order for the meeting because the champagne last time was too sour, a better marque was needed...
As others have said, I think Cherie and Tony are too keen to be liked and too impressionable even after all this time - they've allowed themselves to be turned into spendthrift idiots. Too long at the top sends you mad - Margaret Thatcher is another good example.
I think CB especially has a poor body image and people like Carole Caplin are just queueing up to exploit it. Just because she is a QC doesn't make her sensible...

Caliguila
I understood that the figure was taken from the official labour party election accounts, and was the amount claimed by Cherie for hairstyling - so whilst she may have settled the bill initially, she reclaimed the figure.