Blair asked Bush during first phone call if he could call him by first name

Archives reveal PM's early attempts to establish personal relationship with president after 2000 US election

Tony Blair moved swiftly to place his relationship with George W Bush on a personal footing after the Republican won the 2000 US presidential election, asking him early on" in their first telephone call if he could call him by his first name.

Bush warmly assented (but stuck himself with addressing the prime minister as Sir')," according to a note of their call, which is among government files released to the National Archives. Blair was the first foreign leader to call to congratulate the president-elect. Michael Tatham, a British diplomat, noted that the eight-minute conversation had established as good a rapport as one could hope for" from such a short call.