The British Prime Minister's wife, Mrs Cherie Blair, fought long into the night on Saturday to stop the publication of an inside account of her family's private life. Mrs Blair was eventually granted an injunction to stop the Mail on Sunday's story, which detailed Ms Rosalind Mark's time as a nanny to the Blairs' children.
The article had already been published in early editions, however, prompting renewed calls for tougher privacy legislation.
Ms Mark (30) immediately distanced herself from the publication yesterday, asserting that the story had been printed without her knowledge. The Lancaster woman, who worked for the family from 1994 to 1998, through the period when Labour moved from opposition into government, is currently writing a book about her time with the Blairs.
"I wish to make clear once more that I did not give the Mail on Sunday the manuscript from which they have taken material about my time with the Blairs", she said yesterday. "Nor have I ever asked for or received any money".
Ms Mark also suggested that the literary agent Mr Jonathan Harris might be responsible for the Mail on Sunday's acquisition of the manuscript. "Instead of chasing and harassing me, the press should be asking Mr Harris, the only person to whom I showed the manuscript, how it came into the hands of the Mail on Sunday. It certainly got there without my consent or knowledge."
The Blairs' injunction names Mr Harris - who has also denied playing any part in the publication - along with Ms Mark and the Mail on Sunday as defendants.
Meanwhile, the Mail on Sun- day has alleged that Ms Mark has "misrepresented her position" and that she aided it with the story.
Mr Blair reacted last night by asserting that he and his wife would "do whatever it takes to protect the legitimate privacy of our family life and to protect our children from unwarranted intrusion in their lives". He said also that Ms Mark remains a close friend of the family.