5 THINGS ABOUT CHERIE BLAIR’S LOCKDOWN

We have all learned things about our loved ones while in lockdown. For Cherie Blair, the revelation that her husband, Tony — former prime minister of the United Kingdom — can rustle up an omelette has been an important one.

1 THAT’S A LOT OF DIRTY CLOTHES

Tony Blair’s kitchen credentials wouldn’t normally be on the agenda for an interview with his wife of 40 years, who runs a global foundation and her own law firm. But the former PM revealed with some sheepishness that he hadn’t contributed a great deal to domestic chores during lockdown. He hadn’t, in fact, done a load of laundry since May 1997, the month he took office.

2 BEDTIME APPOINTMENTS

Blair adds that “in the ’80s, he did help look after the kids. But then he became prime minister and our (youngest) boy was born, and the switchboard would ring and say ‘The prime minister is coming back at 7 p.m., can you make sure the baby is ready so he can put the baby to bed, and his dinner’s ready,’” and through Zoom, she rolls her eyes. “And 7 p.m. would come, no Tony; 8 p.m., no Tony. Baby put to bed. Dinner ruined. He’d turn up and say ‘Oh, I had to take a call from the president of the U.S.’ ”

3 OUT IN THE OPEN

Surely he has come to grips with domestic life? “The problem has been since we left Downing Street,” she says. “He’s got into the habit of thinking that whatever he does is more important. Re-education is still going on.” She believes it is vital that people like them talk about this: “The more we talk about it, the more we see men talking about it, (the quicker) it stops being women’s work.”

4 BACK TO THE 1950S

The Cherie Blair Foundation for Women promotes female entrepreneurship in lower- and middle-income countries. She believes lockdown is disproportionately affecting women. “Who’s doing home-schooling? Mainly women. Men may help out. Aged mother needs her shopping done. Who’s doing that? Mainly women. Who’s doing the cleaning?”

5 ADD WOMEN TO POLICY-MAKING

If we had more women’s voices at the forefront of public discourse, she says, “we may have had more priority on getting the schools open than getting the pubs open.”