Care protester meets the PM (From Wiltshire Times)

Care protester meets the PM

12:25pm Thursday 15th March 2007 in News By Charley Morgan

THE husband of a multiple sclerosis sufferer, who won the support of the Prime Minister's wife in a battle to stop Wiltshire County Council cutting her care, was a guest of honour at 10 Downing Street yesterday.

James McGee, 62, of Holbrook Vale, Melksham, whose wife Mary passed away in January after a long fight with her illness, had the red carpet rolled out for him and his two daughters before meeting Tony and Cherie Blair.

Mrs Blair wrote to the couple in August last year saying she would fight their case for them in her professional capacity as a human rights lawyer.

When Mrs McGee went into hospital after suffering heart failure later that year Mrs Blair sent her flowers and a note.

Mr McGee said: "It was a smashing day, just unbelievable. The president of Ghana was there when we arrived so they had the red carpet out.

"When we met Cherie and Tony, she told the staff to leave the red carpet down so we could all have our photos taken together outside the front door.

"When we went to go back in, Cherie even had to knock on the door because we had been locked out."

Mr McGee and his daughters Carolyn Knott and Alison McKeown spent an hour and a half in 10 Downing Street chatting to the Blairs and then going for a tour around the building.

Mr Blair told Mr McGee how Cherie had talked to him about their case and how sorry he was about his wife's death.

Mr McGee will be going to meet government officials in charge of benefits for carers later this year so he can continue to fight for the rights of people with long-term illnesses and their carers.