British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his fiancee Carrie Symonds have announced the birth of a baby boy. “The prime minister and Ms Symonds are thrilled to announce the birth of a healthy baby boy at a London hospital on Wednesday morning,” a spokesperson for the couple said in an emailed statement. “Both mother and baby are doing very well.”
Johnson, 55, announced in February that he would marry Symonds, 32, and that they were expecting a baby in early summer. They were the first unmarried couple officially to live together in Downing Street when he became prime minister last July. Johnson has been married twice before.
Johnson will take a “short period” of paternity leave later in the year, his spokesman said. The prime minister only returned to work on Monday, three weeks after being hospitalized for Covid-19, including a stint in critical care. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab deputized for Johnson in the House of Commons during his absence.
In the UK, fathers are entitled to take two weeks of paternity leave. Symonds gave birth at a state-run National Health Service hospital, Johnson’s spokesman said. “Wonderful news,” opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer tweeted about the birth of Johnson’s child. “Many congratulations to Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds.”
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon also tweeted her congratulations, adding that she wished “health and happiness to the wee one.” Previous prime ministers David Cameron and Tony Blair also celebrated the birth of babies during their time in Number 10. Johnson fathered four children with his previous wife, Marina Wheeler, but won’t discuss how many others he has. When asked during the election campaign for his total number of children, Johnson refused to reply.
