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Blair 'slept rough' on streets to follow rock-star dreams

Harvey McGavin
Monday 01 March 2004 01:00 GMT
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Tony Blair slept rough on the streets of London as a teenager pursuing a dream of becoming a rock star.

The Prime Minister once spent the night on a park bench near Euston station after coming to the capital during his gap year without a place to stay. Mr Blair's wife, Cherie, told the tale to guests at a Downing Street reception for Centrepoint, the homeless charity, last week.

Guests at the function said Mrs Blair appeared to depart from her prepared text to tell them how her husband had arrived in London with his guitar but could not afford a room. Mr Blair was in a band called Ugly Rumours.

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