David Cameron flies to France after father stroke
David Cameron has flown to France after his father suffered a stroke while on holiday in France, missing the first prime minister’s questions since the summer break.
Downing Street said the prime minister’s father, Ian, was seriously ill after suffering a stroke and heart complications.
A spokesman for Number 10 said: “After talking to doctors at the hospital, the Prime Minister has decided to fly to be with his father and mother Mary.”
Mr Clegg replaced Mr Cameron at today’s prime minister’s questions, where he faced the shadow justice minister Jack Straw.
The deputy prime minister told MPs: “We wish him, his father and their family all best wishes at this difficult time.”
Mr Straw added that the prime minister had made “exactly the right decision” to be with his parents.
Ian Cameron, 77, and his wife Mary have four children, including the prime minister.
He was born with a condition that left his legs severely deformed from the knees downwards, but had a successful career as a stockbroker.
During the election campaign, the prime minister revealed how his parents had “inspired him”.
In an ITV interview, the Tory leader said: “My father is a huge hero figure for me.
“He’s an amazingly brave man because he was born with no heels – quite a disability. But the glass with him was half-full, normally with something alcoholic. I think I got my sense of optimism from him.”
David Cameron had returned to work yesterday after spending two weeks on paternity leave, following the birth of his daughter Florence during a family holiday in Cornwall.
