Here's the setup:

Allegedly at American urging, British spies listened in to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's office in the run up to the Iraq war, former UK cabinet minister Clare Short says.

And now the punch line:

Blair - "I really do regard what Clare Short has said this morning as totally irresponsible"

He didn't deny the bugging, didn't say that was "irresponsible, nor the attempt to subvert a peace process, not even the war as a first choice, none of those were "irresponsible", but the whistle-blowing, that was "irresponsible".

And some people say the Brits don't have a sense of humor.

Additional - Blair insisted the UK security services acted in accordance with domestic and international law and in the best interests of this country, but the UN said any British spying on Mr Annan would be illegal.

Arf (you can see why he and Bush get along so well.)