TONY BLAIR has denied claims that he breached coronavirus quarantine restrictions by failing to self-isolate for 14 days upon returning to Britain from a trip to the US.

The former Labour prime minister was pictured leaving Harry’s Bar in Mayfair around 10 days after returning on a private jet from a two-day trip to Washington last month, the Sunday Telegraph reported yesterday.

He had asked Whitehall officials for exemption from the rules, but was not issued with a formal letter which would have allowed him to avoid the two-week quarantine, according to the newspaper.

But a spokeswoman for Mr Blair said that he was not refused exemption, and that he had been told to follow guidance on “international conferences,” having been invited by US officials to attend a White House event held over the Israel-UAE peace deal.

She added that Mr Blair tested negative for Covid-19 before departing Britain, on arrival at the White House, when he returned to Britain and “has been tested several times since.”

Government guidance states that diplomats and representatives at international conferences are granted “privileges and immunities,” meaning they are not required to self-isolate if their work is confirmed as “essential.”