Blair admits spelling gaffe

'So how would you spell tomorrow?'

Tony Blair has owned up to the fact he has difficulty spelling the word "tomorrow".

Downing Street initially denied suggestions the premier could not spell the word - which was wrongly spelled in a letter he sent to a Labour candidate - and tried to blame his handwriting.

But during a speech in Birmingham Mr Blair owned up to the gaffe, saying: "I gather there was what can only be described as a very lame attempt by my press office to suggest it was just my writing and not my spelling.

He always had difficultly with the word tomorrow, even 30 years ago. If I told him once I must have told him a thousand times

Ian Robertson, Mr Blair's former English teacher

"I regret I will have to put my hands up fully and say no it was indeed my spelling that was at fault.

The gaffe came ahead of Labour's by-election victory in Ipswich on Thursday and of the town's football win against Inter Milan.

In a good luck letter to Chris Mole - now the new Ipswich MP, Mr Blair wrote: "This is just a note to wish you luck toomorrow.

"Best of luck to you and, of course to Ipswich Town in toomorrow's big game.

"I'm sure Inter won't be relishing this after Ipswich's superb performances in the last two rounds.

"I hope there are two good results for Ipswich toomorrow."

On Thursday Mr Blair's former English teacher stepped into the debate.

Ian Robertson, who taught Mr Blair at Fettes School, in Edinburgh, said the future Prime Minister always had trouble spelling 'tomorrow'.

Downing Street aides had said the mistake was down to clumsy handwriting.

But Mr Robertson, now BBC Radio 5 Live's Rugby Union reporter, said: "He always had difficulty with the word tomorrow, even 30 years ago.

"If I told him once I must have told him a thousand times."

'Incredibly bright'

Mr Robertson said there was no doubt that the scribbled note contains a spelling mistake, rather than a simple slip of the pen.

Mr Robertson: 'Mr Blair was obnoxiously bright'

"It is, there's no question. He has put two Os. But his handwriting wasn't all that bad.

"I think he's having to do it at twice the speed of light now, which is why it's a bit scrappy.

"He had quite good handwriting. He was obnoxiously bright. He was the sharpest tool in the kitbag.

Mr Robertson said he kept 15 essays from exceptional pupils when he left the school, including one by the young Blair.

"He was an incredibly bright fellow and spelling was something he was quite good at," Mr Robertson added.