10:06am UK, Tuesday July 02, 2002

George Michael's new pop video depicts him apparently trying to have sex with Cherie Blair.

sl george michael video shoot the dog cherie blair

Michael's advance on Cherie

Shoot The Dog, out this week, depicts the singer dressed in a leopard-print thong, trying to approach the Prime Minister's wife.

Tony Blair is also depicted in the contentious video, portrayed as a poodle to US President George W Bush.

Michael has another dig at Blair by showing him as a ship's captain, happily steering Britain - in the form of a speedboat - towards the US. As he sets off across the Atlantic, Mr Blair fails to notice the country is still moored to Europe.

'More dangerous'

Michael told the Daily Mirror he was concerned about the growing relationship between the Prime Minister and President Bush.

"It occurred to me that Britain was starting to become a more dangerous place than it used to be for that reason," he said.


"I simply wanted to write a song that said to everybody, 'People, let's be aware of this situation and understand there are some very p***** off people out there and that America - and us, for that matter - need to start to listen to them a little'."

Banned?

Michael said he cried when he saw the terrorism attacks on September 11, but felt he had to question America and Britain's attitude in the aftermath.

He said: "I've been advised that radio stations that rely on Government licences might ban it - but I want it heard, not banned.

"It could get slated, it could land me right in the s***, but I hope it just gets people debating because there's never been a more important time to talk than now."

A Downing Street spokesman refused to comment on the video.