Tony Blair earned more than £20 million last year from advising business chiefs and foreign governments, it was reported yesterday.
The former Prime Minister's income since leaving Downing Street has been shrouded in mystery, but the new figure emerged during an interview with Mr Blair by Financial Times editor Lionel Barber.
The size of the former Labour leader's income is certain to provoke fresh criticism of his money-making exploits since he left office, even though he has insisted he pays 50 per cent income tax on all his earnings.
He told Mr Barber, who interviewed him in Jerusalem, that the money was ploughed back into his philanthropic ventures, adding: 'The purpose is not to make money. It is to make a difference.'
Mr Blair's financial affairs have been difficult to unravel because a network of companies and partnerships allows him to avoid publishing full accounts.
In January he filed accounts declaring an income of £12 million last year for just one of his dozen or so companies, Windrush Ventures.
But the accounts appeared to show he had paid tax on only a fraction of the income, thanks to administrative expenses experts described as 'surprisingly' high.
rest at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2167038/Tony-Blair-earned-20m-just-year-advising-business-bosses-foreign-governments.html#ixzz1zO9kZl00
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