Get well wishes flood in for Blair

Good wishes have flooded in for British Prime Minister Tony Blair after he was treated in hospital for a heart problem.

Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said in a statement: “I was very sorry to hear that the Prime Minister was taken ill and was briefly admitted to hospital.

“I very much hope he makes a swift recovery and I send him and his family all best wishes at this difficult time.”

Shadow First Minister of the Scottish Parliament and Scottish National Party leader John Swinney said Mr Blair had his “very best wishes” and those of the SNP for a quick recovery.

“I was heartened to hear that he was only in hospital for a very short time and can only hope that he will be returned to full health swiftly,” he said.

Tony Blair’s constituency also wished him a speedy recovery.

Locals in Sedgefield, Co Durham, began phoning with goodwill messages after news broke of the prime minister’s hospital visit.

Mr Blair’s Labour Party agent John Burton said he had spoke to Mr Blair’s wife Cherie and that the PM was fine

“I have spoken to Cherie and Tony’s fine. He went into hospital and had some treatment and now he is fine.

“We are close family friends, we just asked after Tony. We were talking about him as just Tony not as the prime minister.”

Of the people of Sedgefield, Mr Burton said: “He will be in their thoughts and prayers as a friend.

“We have already had a lot of phone calls from local people wishing him well.”

Asked about Mr Blair’s recent health, he said: “Last time I saw him he seemed fine.”

Mr Burton runs day-to-day affairs for the prime minister at his constituency.

He has known him throughout his parliamentary career and recently helped him celebrate 20 years as an MP.