JULIE Kirkbride ruffled a few feathers at Downing Street this week by placing little Leo Blair under the spotlight.

The MP became the first person to publically challenge the Prime Minister over whether he had allowed the 18-month-old to have the controversial measles, mumps and rubella vaccine.

Julie, a long-standing opponent of MMR, revealed she had thrown away an invitation to give her own14-month old son, Angus, the jab.

And she said it was only right and proper that Mr Blair should reveal what had gone on in his household given that he has publically backed MMR.

Public interest

As a politician perfectly understand the need to keep children's lives private but there are times when policy carries a legitimate public interest.

It's the Government's policy to refuse the right of parents to have single vaccinations. In those circumstances, I believe the public should be told whether or not Leo Blair has received his MMR.

The Downing Street response, however, was distinctly grumpy. A spokesman said:Mr and Mrs Blair believe their child has the same right to medical privacy as any other child in the country.

But both support the Government's campaign of the MMR vaccine which is based on strong scientific evidence.

The Department of Health has repeatedly insisted that MMR, rather than single injections, is the best and most effective way to protect children against measles, mumps and rubella.

But about 2,000 families in Britain have taken legal action, claiming their children have been damaged by the jab, with many believing it has triggered autism and bowel disorders.