Blair insists MMR jab is safe option

Tony Blair insisted today that there was not a "single reputable piece of evidence" in favour of abandoning the controversial MMR jab.

Speaking as he flew into Nigeria at the start of a fourday visit to the continent he also gave one of the strongest hints yet that his son, Leo, has received the jab.

Although he repeatedly refused to comment on Leo's case he said: "I hope people realise that I would never ask someone or advise someone to do something as a parent which I believe was dangerous for my own children. I may be many things but I would not do that."

He also refuted claims that the Government had not done enough to instill the public with confidence in the triple-dose vaccine.

Speaking to reporters on the flight he said that to those who say that the Government has not produced enough evidence in its favour "it has been there since day one".

He went to say that unless newspapers print the stories and the TV stations broadcast them, the public could not possibly know about it. "There is a responsibility on us to put forward the information and on people to publish it," he said.