Blair accused of 'extravagant' decoration bill

Tony Blair has been accused of abusing public funds after he was found to have splashed out £2,500 on "extravagant" Christmas ornaments for Downing Street, including at least four trees and boxes of "tasteful" baubles. The cost of the decorations was revealed in a parliamentary answer to the Tory MP for Huntingdon, Jonathan Djanogly. He also discovered that ministers in the Department of Culture, including Kim Howells, spent almost £2,000 this year sending out Christmas cards. Officials at Number 10 said Downing Street buildings had to "dressed suitably".