Blair confidante attacked in violent burglary

Lord Levy, Tony Blair's adviser on the Middle East, was attacked in a violent burglary at his home, it emerged last night.

Millionaire Lord Levy and his wife Gilda, were handcuffed and assaulted by three burglars who broke into their mansion in Mill Hill, north London.

The peer, aged 58, was reportedly hit over the head with a shovel during the raid.

The three suspects took a safe from the house and it is thought they escaped with cash and jewellery.

Lord Levy, a former record company boss, is a close personal friend and tennis partner of the Prime Minister.

He was one of New Labour's chief fund raisers, being dubbed Mr Cashpoint, and acts as the Prime Minister's roving ambassador in the Middle East.

A Scotland Yard spokeswoman refused to confirm the identity of the burglary victims.

But she said: "Police were called at 10.07 on Saturday night to reports of a burglary at an address in Mill Hill, north London.

"Three white male suspects broke in and handcuffed the middle aged man and wife who lived at the address.

"No firearms or other weapons were seen. The suspects used some violence against the victims but neither suffered any serious injuries.

"The suspects escaped with a safe from the house.

"It is not known exactly what was stolen but it is thought that jewellery and cash has gone."

Born in Hackney, east London, to working class parents, Lord Levy now lives in a north London home complete with swimming pool and tennis courts.

He is one of the dozens of new peers the prime minister has created since Labour came to power in 1997.

The peer, whom it is said, has the prime minister's ear, has also worked for Jewish charities, including Jewish Care.