DOWNING STREET is refusing to disclose whether Tony Blair has privately discussed changing copyright laws with Sir Cliff Richard, his summer holiday host.

Officials at No 10 last week provided information about Blair’s involvement in talks on changes to the law that would benefit Richard and other singers but did not reveal crucial details. This followed the story in The Sunday Times that described how, at a private Labour party meeting last year, Blair had discussed changing copyright laws.

The discussion was in the wake of a lobbying campaign spearheaded by Richard to extend the period for which he receives royalties on his work from the current 50 years.

Blair is preparing to leave for his fourth holiday at Richard’s £3m villa in Barbados but remained in Britain yesterday to continue the UN talks on the Middle East. His family are already on holiday.

According to a written record of Labour’s national executive committee held in July 2005, Blair “addressed concerns including . . . copyright laws, whereby Cliff Richard and the Rolling Stones only receive 50 years’ protection”.

Two people at the meeting said Blair indicated he would support an increase in the copyright term. But in a letter to The Sunday Times last week, David Hill, director of communications at Downing Street, challenged the article, saying Blair did not raise the issue at the meeting, although the newspaper had given the “strong impression” he had.

Hill went on: “The issue of copyright was raised by another member of the NEC, Michael Cashman MEP, a well-known campaigner on the issue. It was also Mr Cashman who mentioned a number of prominent UK artists, including Sir Cliff Richard and the Rolling Stones.” Cashman could not be contacted last week.

Hill did not elaborate on Blair’s support for a copyright extension, but said there was “no question” of any breach of ministerial rules by him.

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