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Tony Blair's police protection costs taxpayers millions, report claims Tony Blair's police protection costs taxpayers millions, report claims
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Tony Blair is reportedly costing the taxpayer millions of pounds a year in police protection, as well as allegedly blurring the line between his work as a Middle East business envoy and his business interests.Tony Blair is reportedly costing the taxpayer millions of pounds a year in police protection, as well as allegedly blurring the line between his work as a Middle East business envoy and his business interests.
Blair requires as many as 12 police protection officers due to his former role as prime minister and his controversial advocacy of the invasion of Iraq in 2003, it is claimed in a Daily Telegraph investigation published on Friday. Blair requires as many as 12 police protection officers due to his former role as prime minister and his advocacy of the invasion of Iraq in 2003, it is claimed in a Daily Telegraph investigation published on Friday.
Documents seen by the Telegraph allegedly show that Blair sometimes visits up to five countries a week – at a potential cost of between £14,000 and £16,000 to the public purse. The paper reported that each of the 12 officers is likely to be earning at least £56,000 but can earn more than £70,000 due to the overtime they accumulate on foreign trips. Documents seen by the Telegraph allegedly show that Blair sometimes visits up to five countries a week, at a potential cost of between £14,000 and £16,000 to the public purse. The paper reported that each of the 12 officers was likely to be earning at least £56,000 but could earn more than £70,000 due to the overtime they accumulate on foreign trips.
The Mail on Sunday in 2010 reported that the cost of his diplomatic protection was £250,000 a year, double the cost for Gordon Brown. The Home Office oversees the cost of police protection for former prime ministers, and there have been previous calls by Tory MPs for Blair to make a larger contribution to the cost of his protection. In 2010 the Mail on Sunday reported that the cost of Blair’s diplomatic protection was £250,000 a year, double the cost for Gordon Brown. The Home Office oversees the cost of police protection for former prime ministers, and there have been previous calls by Tory MPs for Blair to make a larger contribution towards the cost of his protection.
The Telegraph inquiry suggests that when he flies on private jets, Blair does not ask for the taxpayer to foot the bill, but if he is abroad, as many as eight police protection officers accompany him. The Telegraph inquiry suggests that when he flies on private jets, Blair does not ask for the taxpayer to foot the bill, but if he is abroad as many as eight police protection officers accompany him.
Blair has repeatedly defended his luxury globe trotting, arguing his lifestyle is no more lavish than that of other diplomats. Blair has repeatedly defended his luxury globe-trotting, arguing that his lifestyle is no more lavish than that of other diplomats.
He is standing down as Middle East envoy, where his role trying to build the Palestinian economy has been circumscribed by the failure of efforts to secure a wider peace settlement in Israel and Palestine, something for which he has no official responsibility.He is standing down as Middle East envoy, where his role trying to build the Palestinian economy has been circumscribed by the failure of efforts to secure a wider peace settlement in Israel and Palestine, something for which he has no official responsibility.
Blair is to take on a new role tackling antisemitism as chairman of the European Council on Tolerance and Reconciliation, which campaigns for stronger laws against extremism across the continent.Blair is to take on a new role tackling antisemitism as chairman of the European Council on Tolerance and Reconciliation, which campaigns for stronger laws against extremism across the continent.
Related: Tony Blair appointed as head of European body fighting antisemitismRelated: Tony Blair appointed as head of European body fighting antisemitism
Ironically, the latest accusations come amid fresh efforts to rehabilitate the Blair government’s reputation in the Labour party after several years in which it was consistently criticised by Ed Miliband’s team. One shadow cabinet member said: “We have got to stop treating the politics of a man that won us three elections like he is dirt.”Ironically, the latest accusations come amid fresh efforts to rehabilitate the Blair government’s reputation in the Labour party after several years in which it was consistently criticised by Ed Miliband’s team. One shadow cabinet member said: “We have got to stop treating the politics of a man that won us three elections like he is dirt.”
However, the consistent reports about his lavish lifestyle, drawn from speaking engagement consultancies across the Middle East, and the opaque nature of his business empire make it harder for those that support his politics to get a hearing. However, the consistent reports about his lavish lifestyle and the opaque nature of his business empire make it harder for those that support his politics to get a hearing.
The latest report suggests:The latest report suggests:
In several cases the influential figures Blair meets on private business trips are the same people who are his contacts in his official role as envoy.In several cases the influential figures Blair meets on private business trips are the same people who are his contacts in his official role as envoy.