Overview

• National Archives files reveal the Blairs benefited from about £46,000 in designer discounts secured by Cherie Blair’s adviser Carole Caplin between July 2001 and December 2002.
• No 10 private secretary Clare Sumner, after consulting Sir Andrew Turnbull, advised Tony Blair to write cheques for £1,116 to Paul Smith and £6,532 to Nicole Farhi to align with ministerial and MPs’ codes.
• Officials determined Cherie Blair received no preferential treatment and recommended splitting her purchases 50/50 between her roles as the PM’s spouse and a career barrister, with no further repayment required.
• Civil servants flagged that benefits below public cost must be declared or reimbursed under rules capping untaxed gifts at £140 to avoid damaging public confidence.
• The disclosures have reignited debate over transparency in handling non-monetary benefits for senior politicians, echoing scrutiny of Sir Keir Starmer’s 2024 wardrobe donations.