Chancellor collects wife from hospital and looks forward to his next 'big day'

Gordon Brown beamed with pride yesterday when his wife, Sarah, left hospital for the first time since the birth of their daughter, Jennifer, last week.

But as the Chancellor spoke of his hopes for the "next big day" when his tiny daughter could join them at home, his closest friend in politics, Tony Blair, had apparently yet to congratulate him in person.

Despite the close relationship between the two men, an aide to Mr Blair explained that it had been hard for them to speak when Jennifer Jane arrived seven weeks early just after Christmas. The Prime Minister was away on holiday in Egypt, and the Chancellor had spent most of that time in the hospital.

A Downing Street source said: "Various messages have been sent and various messages have been sent back.''

Later Mr Blair told Sky television: "I think, in fact I know, it's a tremendous joy to him, and we have sent our warmest congratulations to him."

Nothing could dampen Mr Brown's spirits yesterday as he posed for pictures with his wife outside Forth Park Maternity Hospital in Kirkcaldy, Fife.

He said: "Sarah and I are both delighted that Sarah is able to go home. The next big day we are waiting for is when Jennifer can go home with us, perhaps in five or six weeks."

Mrs Brown, carrying a bouquet of red roses, smiled as the Chancellor answered questions from reporters. She nodded when asked if she was sad to leave her daughter behind. The girl weighed 2lb 4oz when she was born on 28 December by Caesarean section after a routine scan aroused concerns.

As they left, the couple praised the hospital's staff. Mr Brown said: "Jennifer is being cared for wonderfully by the midwives, doctors, nurses and all the staff at this great hospital and we are eternally grateful. This is the National Health Service at its best.

"We were with Jennifer for quite a lot of time this morning and she is as beautiful as she was on the first day I saw her. The baby is doing a lot better, and we are very grateful to everyone for taking such an interest and also the well-wishers who have sent flowers and cards from all over the country."