Anger over Tony Blair’s home security

Despite having earned £12m in his first year out of office, as reported here on Wednesday, the bill for Tony Blair's security is still being met by the British taxpayer. Fair enough, but residents in Connaught Square, London, where he and his wife Cherie have a sumptuous five-storey home, claim that the globe-trotting former Prime Minister hardly spends any time there. As a result, they wonder why five armed policeman are necessary to provide round-the-clock security to an empty house.

Local resident Nicholas Wood complains to the London Evening Standard: "Two days ago it was very cold outside. My wife and I were walking past the Blairs' house and saw three policemen in the mews and two on the doorstep, all armed with machine-guns. Joking, I said, 'You must be cold!' And they said, 'Yes, and this is a complete waste of time - because the house is empty.'"

Wood adds: "I asked if the Blairs were ever there and he said, 'Just occasionally.' I think it is an outrage that taxpayers are paying for policemen to guard an empty house. We've already paid £80,000 for reinforced glass and a steel door and for the security building next door."