View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Archive content
August 22, 2005updated 22 Nov 2022 4:33pm

Blair holiday ban lifted: they are in Barbados

By Press Gazette

Dominic Ponsford
Downing Street has
lifted the lid on one of the worst kept secrets in Britain by ending
the media ban on revealing the Blairs’ holiday destination.
The
Prime Minister and his family have been relaxing in Barbados for the
last two weeks. Although a quick google news search would reveal this
by looking at foreign publications – the British media have all abided
by an unusual request from Downing Street not to reveal it.
But
last night Downing Street wrote to editors again telling them that it
was now okay to say that the Blairs were in Barbados but asking them
not to reveal their exact movements.
The
loosening of the ban has come about because yesterday
Blair attended a service for members of the Barbados Legion to mark the 60th anniversary of the ending of World War Two.
A Downing Street spokesman said: “As the Prime
Minister was attending a public event it was decided that the location
of his holiday can be reported. We are grateful for people’s
co-operation.”
The request to editors to
keep the Blair holiday a secret was not a legally binding one and was
made on the advice of the head of the Prime Minister’s protection team.
The
UK media have been kept well supplied with pictures from the Blair
break by news agency Splash which has been following the family around
closely since they landed in Barbados. It has been careful not to
breach the PCC code by only picturing the Blairs in public. British
newspaper editors have also abided by a Downing Street request not to
use pictures of the Blair children.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network