Hackers gain access to information on Tony Blair

Tony Blair’s national insurance number appears to have been obtained by computer hackers from the email account of a former member of his staff.

Details of a file containing the former prime minister’s NI number and the names, addresses and telephone numbers of friends, colleagues and relatives began circulating on Twitter last night.

Mr Blair’s office said the data had not been obtained from his own systems but probably that of a past colleague.

According to reports, the file was first uploaded to a site called pastebin.com and featured the phone numbers of Labour figures including the former lord chancellor Lord Irvine and the MP Denis MacShane.

There were also contact details for a number of other members of his and wife Cherie’s families.

A note at the top of the file read: “The information in this article was obtained in 2010 December. We still have access to the webmail server. Phone numbers may have changed but all the information is 100% legit (sic).”

A supposed member of a group of computer hackers known as Team Poison posted a Tweet, stating: “Tony Blair’s Private Info is getting leaked tonight, so is his Personal Adivsors CV and UK MPs & Lords who supported the war in Iraq.”

A spokesman for Mr Blair said: “This information has not been obtained from Tony Blair or any of his office systems. This appears to be information from the personal email account of a former member of staff from a few years ago.”