Tony Blair's father dies aged 89
Tony Blair has paid tribute to his father, Leo, after he died at the age of 89.
Mr Blair was at his father’s side when he died, in what he described as a “peaceful” death.
The former Prime Minister had been forced to cancel engagements over the past two days, including an event with Bill Clinton, after Leo Blair fell seriously ill.
Leo Blair who lived in Shropshire, was the son of travelling entertainers who gave him up for adoption by a Glasgow shipworker.
In the 1960s he became a member of the Conservative Party and chairman of the Durham Conservative Association, but had to abandon his ambition of becoming an MP aged 40 when he suffered a stroke, Tony at the time was aged 11.
In 1975 his wife Hazel - Tony's mother - died of throat cancer.
Leo remarried and moved to Shropshire with his second wife, Olwyn. He joined the Labour party, when his son became leader.
Tony frequently spoke of his closeness to his father, and named his youngest son, born while he was in Downing Street, after him.
