Tony Blair will undergo heart surgery on Friday after his health problems returned. The 51-year-old revealed in a television interview that the heart flutter he experienced last year came back while he was on holiday in August. "It's not particularly alarming, but it's something you should get fixed," he said. "It's a routine procedure."
The prime minister is having a technique called catheter ablation carried out in order to regulate his heartbeat. He will be discharged from Chelsea And Westminster Hospital this weekend and he intends to go ahead with an official visit to Ethiopia next week.
News of the premier's heart scare comes at the end of a Labour Party conference that was fraught with controversy. The politician has made it clear he intends to lead the country for another five years, but he says he will step down after that. "I think people are sensible enough to know what I am saying," he affirmed. "I want another go – I have still got things I want to do."
Tony and his wife are also preparing for life after Downing Street by investing in a luxurious property in the heart of the capital. The family has bought a house in Connaught Square, near Hyde Park Corner, for £3.5 million. Their neighbours at the prestigious address will include the likes of Madonna, Gwyneth Paltrow and Stella McCartney.
And despite the challenges of recent days, Cherie has also found time to take part in a charity photoshoot. The 50-year-old donned a t-shirt emblazoned with the words "be up front" to promote the work of Breast Cancer Care.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
