Latest news with #CaroleCaplin
Sky News
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
Tony Blair was urged to pay back thousands in discounts on designer clothes, new records show
Former prime minister Sir Tony Blair was urged to pay back thousands of pounds worth of discounts he received on designer clothes, according to newly-released records. According to documents handed over to the National Archives, Downing Street officials advised Sir Tony to repay more than £7,600 for items purchased from designers Nicole Farhi and Paul Smith. The discounts were negotiated by Mrs Blair's style adviser and lifestyle coach Carole Caplin. She claimed she had secured discounts of up to 60% on the designer items as she bought them wholesale, but officials were concerned that the large discounts would not be available to ordinary members of the public. The prime minister and Mrs Blair spent £8,021.50 between July 2001 to December 2002 with Ms Farhi alone, when the retail price would have been £20,855. In total, the couple had received discounts amounting to £12,833.50 more than the total they had spent on the clothes. While Clare Sumner, a No 10 official, wrote in correspondence that "we are not arguing that anything has been done wrong, indeed nothing has," she said: "The issue is one of public perception." It was ultimately agreed by officials that while Mrs Blair did not receive any "preferential or beneficial treatment," the prime minister should pay the full amount. They advised him to write cheques for £1,116 to Mr Smith and £6,532 to Ms Farhi. Ms Sumner also wrote: "For you, we still think the simplest thing is to pay for your clothes in full and that Carole should be made aware of this for the future." The concern over discounts has similarities with Sir Keir Starmer's freebies row last year, where the current prime minister came under fire after Labour donor Lord Waheed Alli gave MPs tens of thousands of pounds to cover clothes, holidays and work events. Other declassified files released to the National Archives showed that the then US ambassador Sir Christopher Meyer warned Sir Tony it would be"politically impossible" to stop George W Bush from invading Iraq.
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Blair urged to pay back thousands on discounted designer clothes, files show
Prime minister Tony Blair was advised to repay thousands of pounds in discounts which he received on designer clothes, according to newly-released official files. Papers released to the National Archives show that No 10 officials recommended he should pay back more than £7,600 on items bought from Nicole Farhi and Paul Smith. The discounts were negotiated by his wife Cherie's controversial friend and style adviser, Carole Caplin, who bought clothes for Mrs Blair. Ms Caplin told officials that because she bought the clothes wholesale she was able to to secure discounts of up to 60% – including on items bought for Mr Blair as well. However, officials were concerned that such large discounts would not be available to ordinary members of the public. According to the files, between July 2001 to December 2002 the couple spent £8,021.50 with one designer alone – Nicole Farhi – when the retail price would have been £20,855. It meant the total discount they received came to £12,8343, more than the total amount they spent. Initially, officials advised that Mr Blair should repay the discounts he received in full – around £10,000 – and that Mrs Blair should pay back half the benefits she obtained – £28,000. Clare Sumner, a No 10 official, wrote: 'We are not arguing that anything has been done wrong, indeed nothing has. The issue is one of public perception.' However, after discussions with the cabinet secretary Sir Andrew Turnbull it was agreed that Mrs Blair did not receive any 'preferential or beneficial treatment' in her role as prime minister's wife. It was agreed, however, that the suppliers would in future have to sign confidentiality agreements to ensure there was no incentive for them to provide goods cheaply in order to exploit the fact they the prime minister's wife wore their clothes. But for Mr Blair, however, officials said they believed he still should pay the full amount, advising him to write cheques for to £1,116 to Paul Smith and £6,532 to Nicole Farhi. Ms Sumner wrote: 'For you, we still think the simplest thing is to pay for your clothes in full and that Carole should be made aware of this for the future.'
The Independent
21-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Tony Blair urged to pay back almost £10,000 for discounts on designer clothes, records show
Prime minister Tony Blair was advised to repay thousands of pounds in discounts which he received on designer clothes, according to newly-released official files. Papers released to the National Archives show that No 10 officials recommended he should pay back more than £7,600 on items bought from designers Nicole Farhi and Paul Smith. The discounts were negotiated by his wife Cherie's controversial friend and style adviser, Carole Caplin, who bought clothes for Mrs Blair. Ms Caplin told officials that because she bought the clothes wholesale she was able to to secure discounts of up to 60 per cent – including on items bought for Mr Blair as well. However, officials were concerned that such large discounts would not be available to ordinary members of the public. According to the files, between July 2001 to December 2002 the couple spent £8,021.50 with one designer alone – Nicole Farhi – when the retail price would have been £20,855. It meant the total discount they received came to £12,8343, more than the total amount they spent. Initially, officials advised that Mr Blair should repay the discounts he received in full – around £10,000 – and that Mrs Blair should pay back half the benefits she obtained – £28,000. Clare Sumner, a No 10 official, wrote: 'We are not arguing that anything has been done wrong, indeed nothing has. The issue is one of public perception.' However, after discussions with the cabinet secretary Sir Andrew Turnbull it was agreed that Mrs Blair did not receive any 'preferential or beneficial treatment' in her role as prime minister's wife. It was agreed, however, that the suppliers would in future have to sign confidentiality agreements to ensure there was no incentive for them to provide goods cheaply in order to exploit the fact they the prime minister's wife wore their clothes. But for Mr Blair, however, officials said they believed he still should pay the full amount, advising him to write cheques for to £1,116 to Paul Smith and £6,532 to Nicole Farhi. Ms Sumner wrote: 'For you, we still think the simplest thing is to pay for your clothes in full and that Carole should be made aware of this for the future.'
