Blair happy to keep guitar from Bono – but not one from Mexico's president
Official files released to the National Archives show Mr Blair was keen to take advantage of rules on ministerial gifts to buy the instrument given to him by the U2 singer and Live Aid campaigner once he left office.
He did, however, question whether he would have to pay 'the full purchase price'.
No 10 officials suggested the prime minister, who fronted a rock band called Ugly Rumours in his student days, might want to take the same approach when it came to a white Fender Stratocaster, valued at £2,500, from the Canadian singer Bryan Adams.
However, Mr Blair was much less enthusiastic about an acoustic Vargas guitar presented to him by President Vicente Fox during an official visit to Mexico in 2001, noting: 'I don't actually use it.'
The files also show that Mr Blair rejected advice that he should not keep a Pro Braided tennis racket given to him by the manufacturer, Slazenger.
Officials feared that it was part of a 'marketing ploy' by the company and suggested it should be donated to a children's charity as 'you cannot be seen to endorse any product'.
Mr Blair, however, instructed them just to thank the company, adding: 'It is very churlish to refuse to use it.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
40 minutes ago
- Yahoo
On this day: Elvington brewery wins House of Commons contract
On this day in 2015, the York Press reported that a beer brewed near York would be served in the corridors of power. Elvington-based Hop Studio secured a contract to supply 50,000 bottles of its 'Porter' beer to the House of Commons over two years. The beer was to go on sale in three House of Commons shops, and in the House of Commons' catering facilities, in specially-designed labels under the name 'Treason.' Dave Shaw, founder and owner of the brewery, said the name would create a link to Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot, completing the link to York. Mr Shaw said: "We're really happy with it. The beer was to be specially branded as 'Treason,' in a nod to the Gunpowder Plot and to York-born Guy Fawkes "It was advertised as a contract, and it was a public sector tender, so quite a complicated process. "We did a pitch at the beginning of June and designed some labels. "We picked three beers and they have selected one. "We will brew it in August to get it into their shops for mid-October, then there is also a Christmas fair they do in November, and a tasting with MPs at the beginning of December. "It was advertised nationally, so I imagine breweries from all over the country have a go. "They whittled it down to five, which meant we went to pitch in the Palace of Westminster and as a result we are one of two supplying the beers. "The other is Windsor and Eton, who are supplying two. "We're delighted really. "It's a good prestigious contract. "It will be co-branded as Hop Studio and the House of Commons, and it's quite a good marketing opportunity, showing that we can do these sorts of contracts." At the original time of reporting in 2015, the beer was brewed in an industrial unit off York Road in Elvington, and included vanilla in its recipe.
Associated Press
an hour ago
- Associated Press
Can his golf course 'further' US-UK relations? Trump will use meeting with prime minister to try
EDINBURGH, Scotland (AP) — President Donald Trump once suggested his golf course in Scotland 'furthers' the U.S.-U.K. relationship. Now he's getting the chance to prove it. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is meeting Monday with Trump at a golf property owned by the president's family near Turnberry in southwestern Scotland — then later traveling to Abderdeen, on the country's northeast coast, where there's another Trump golf course and a third is opening soon. During his first term in 2019, Trump posted of his Turnberry property, 'Very proud of perhaps the greatest golf course anywhere in the world. Also, furthers U.K. relationship!' Starmer is not a golfer, but toggling between Trump's Scottish courses shows the outsized influence the president puts on properties bearing his name — and on golf's ability to shape geopolitics. While China initially responded to Trump's tariff threats by retaliating with high import taxes of its own on U.S. goods but has since begun negotiating easing trade tensions, Starmer and his country have taken a far softer approach. He's gone out of his way to work with Trump, flattering the president repeatedly during a February visit to the White House, and teaming up to announce a joint trade framework on tariffs for some key products in May. Starmer and Trump then signed a trade agreement during the G7 summit in Canada that freed the U.K.'s aerospace sector from U.S. tariffs and used quotas to reduce them on auto-related industries from 25% to 10% while increasing the amount of U.S. beef it pledged to import. The prime minister's office says Monday's meeting will also touch on Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza, and that it hopes to welcome the Trump administration working with officials in Qatar and Egypt to bring about a ceasefire. Starmer plans to stress the urgent need to cease the fighting and work to end starvation and other suffering occurring amid increasingly desperate circumstances in Gaza. Also on the agenda, according to Starmer's office, are efforts to promote a possible peace deal to end fighting in Russia's war with Ukraine — particularly efforts at forcing Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table in the next 50 days. Protesters, meanwhile, have planned a demonstration in Balmedie, near Trump's existing course, after demonstrators took to the streets on Saturday to decry the president's visit. Discussions with Starmer follow Trump meeting Sunday with European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen at his Turnberry course. They announced a trade framework that will put 15% tariffs on most goods from both countries — though many major details remain pending. On Tuesday, Trump will be at the site of his new course near Aberdeen for an official ribbon cutting. It opens to the public on Aug. 13 and tee times are already for sale — with the course betting that a presidential visit can help boost sales. There are still lingering U.S.-Britain trade issues that need fine-tuning after the previous agreements, including the tariff rates Washington imposes on steel imported from the U.K. Even as some trade details linger and both leaders grapple with increasingly difficult choices in Gaza and Ukraine, however, Starmer's attempts to stay on Trump's good side appears to be working. 'The U.K. is very well-protected. You know why? Because I like them — that's their ultimate protection,' Trump said during the G7. Also likely to improve Trump's mood is the fact that the U.S. ran an $11.4 billion trade surplus with Britain last year, meaning it exported more to the U.K. than it imported. Census Bureau figures this year indicate that the surplus could grow. The president has for months railed against yawning U.S. trade deficits with key allies and sees tariffs as a way to try and close them in hurry. Trump is set to return to Britain in September for an unprecedented second state visit. Trump will be hosted then by King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Windsor Castle.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Island attraction up for four awards at 'Oscars of the theme park world'
A historic Isle of Wight tourist attraction has been nominated for four awards at the 'Oscars of the theme park world'. Blackgang Chine, the UK's oldest theme park, is up for the honours at The UK Theme Park Awards, hosted by To get attraction over the line, Islanders are being asked to vote. Read more: Isle of Wight history of UK's oldest theme park Blackgang Chine Dom Wray, managing director at Blackgang Chine, said: 'This is a huge honour and a testament to the passion, creativity, and dedication of our entire team." 'We're proud to fly the flag for the Isle of Wight, and now we're calling on our local community to help us win – every single vote counts!' Here's how to vote for Blackgang Chine Jolly Robin at Blackgang Chine (Image: Blackgang Chine) The talking bin, voiced by Joe Sugg (Image: Blackgang Chine) Blackgang Chine is shortlisted in the following categories: Best Customer Service, backed by a recent 98 per cent score in VisitEngland's Quality Assessment. Best Reimagined Ride for swinging ship the Jolly Robin (formerly at Robin Hill as the Colossus), which incorporates old Blackgang Chine favourite Jonah's whale. Best Seaside Park Best Marketing Campaign – for the viral Joe Sugg and the Talking Bin campaign. Public votes help decide the winners, and support from Islanders could prove the difference. Voting closes on September 1.
