PM visits pa’s childhood street

Tony Blair today made his first ever trip to the Glasgow street where his father, who now lives in Shrewsbury, grew up.

The Prime Minister paid an impromptu visit to Golspie Street in the Govan area, where his father Leo, who now lives in Shrewsbury, was brought up by foster parents.

Mr Blair, who was accompanied by Scotland’s First Minister Jack McConnell, also dropped in to the Old Govan Arms pub on the street.

The Prime Minister chatted to surprised customers at the bar. And when he explained to them that his father had lived in the area, one man joked: “So you’re here to pay his rent arrears then.”Mr Blair said: “I remember for so much of my childhood hearing my dad talking about Golspie Street and being brought up here.

“He used to tell the story of how he used to save up the lemonade bottles to go to the cinema.”

And although the building where his father once lived is no longer standing, Mr Blair: “I’ve never actually been here before, so I thought it would be nice to have a look.”

Leo Blair studied law and went on to become first a barrister and, later, a university law lecturer.

Earlier, Mr Blair and Mr McConnell visited the nearby BAE Systems Govan shipyard to meet apprentices working on the construction of a new Type 45 destroyer being built for the Royal Navy. He revealed to them that his father’s foster father had also worked at the shipyards in Govan.