Brown becomes a father again
Gordon Brown has become a father for the third time after his wife, Sarah, gave birth to a baby boy.
The baby, who has yet to be named, was born at Edinburgh’s Royal Infirmary at about 9am this morning, and weighs exactly eight pounds.
Hospital officials said Mrs Brown and her new arrival were doing “really well” and the chancellor was “absolutely delighted”. She will stay in hospital until the end of the week.
The couple’s first son, John, who was born in October 2003, has been in to see his new brother “with a handful of interesting names” as suggestions, a spokeswoman said.
Mr and Mrs Brown had a daughter, Jennifer Jane, in 2002 but she was premature and died aged ten days old.
Speaking from the G8 summit in St Petersburg, Tony Blair sent his congratulations saying “how delighted I am for him and Sarah and John and of course, for the new baby”.
Mr Brown, 55, is widely expected to succeed Mr Blair as prime minister when he steps down. He has been chancellor ever since Labour came to power in 1997.
Liberal Democrat leader Menzies Campbell sent his “warmest congratulations”, adding: “This is great news for Sarah and Gordon.”
It is not yet known whether Mr Brown will take advantage of the two weeks’ paternity leave introduced by the Labour government.
Conservative leader David Cameron, whose wife, Samantha, gave birth to their third child in February, took off one week after the birth and said he planned to take another week later.
