Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown, widely tipped as Britain's next prime minister, became a father again on Monday at the age of 55.
Brown's wife, Sarah, gave birth to a boy at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary's maternity unit.
The couple married in 2000 and are already parents to two-year-old John. Their first child, Jennifer Jane, died due to a brain hemorrhage 10 days after being born prematurely in 2002.
"I am delighted to announce that Sarah Brown gave birth to a healthy baby boy at 9am today [Monday]," obstetrician Rhona Hughes said.
"The baby weighs eight pounds [3.6kg] exactly and it was a very straightforward delivery with no complications," she said.
"Mother and baby are doing really well and dad is absolutely delighted. John has just come in to see his baby brother and he's full of interesting suggestions for names for the baby," she said.
Prime Minister Tony Blair said he was "delighted" and sent his congratulations to the Browns, his next-door neighbors in London's Downing Street.
Blair, in St Petersburg at the G8's annual summit, said: "My reaction to Gordon's good news is to wish him congratulations and say how delighted I am for him and Sarah and John and, of course, the new baby."
Brown is the second most powerful member of the British government.
He is widely expected to take over once Blair makes good on his pledge to step down before the next general election, due in May 2010 at the latest.
Often caricatured as gloomy, Brown has tried to improve his image and profile as a statesman over recent months.
Brown's older brother John, 57, said the baby's straightforward delivery was a relief.
"The family are all absolutely delighted with the news," he said.
Scotland's First Minister Jack McConnell and British opposition leaders also sent their best wishes.
Brown is the the longest continuously serving chancellor since Nicholas Vansittart (1812 to 1823).
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