Homelessness

It is too easy to forget the domestic disruption caused by political turmoil. The Times reports:

"TONY BLAIR may be forced to rent or borrow a house when he leaves Downing Street as his London home is leased to a film director until 2008.
The £3.65 million Georgian townhouse in Connaught Square is being leased by the Blairs to Michael Caton-Jones at the reputed rate of £2,000 a week. The mortgage repayments are £14,000 a month.
The uncertainty over the family’s living arrangements is one of the many reasons that Cherie Blair was among the loudest voices in the Prime Minister’s inner circle opposed to an early departure.
Mrs Blair, a leading advocate of ABG — anyone but Gordon — is worried about the upheaval of the move for their son Leo, 6, although their older children, Euan, Nicky and Katherine, are all at university. Mrs Blair’s mother, Gale, also regularly stays at Downing Street to look after Leo."

Poor Mr Blair has not been very lucky in his property transactions. But I imagine that the lecture circuit will see him all right in the long run.