Tony Blair admits raking in millions as he unveiled plans for a new organisation to influence Brexit
The former PM will gift at least £8m to the Tony Blair Institute he has set up, inspired by the birth of his first granddaughter
TONY Blair has finally admitted to raking in “many millions of pounds” from powerful clients as he unveiled plans for a new organisation to influence Brexit.
The former PM will gift at least £8m to the Tony Blair Institute he has set up, inspired by the birth of his first granddaughter.
He said becoming a grandparent had influenced his decision to launch the not-for-profit organisation but insisted the move was not a return to frontline politics.
Political “earthquakes” like the Brexit vote, Donald Trump’s election victory and the “explosion” of populist political movements across Europe meant there was a need to build a new “policy agenda”.
The institute will be tasked with producing new centrist policies to support practising politicians and Mr Blair said the profits he made from money-spinning talks and advice would be transferred.
He said on Thursday: “I care about my country and the world my children and grandchildren will grow up in and want to play at least a small part in contributing to the debate about the future of both.
“The business side has been shut down and the assets, running into many millions of pounds, gifted to the Institute.”
Declaring he had “learnt a huge amount about the world” and wanted to pass it on, he added: “This is the creation of a platform designed to build a new policy agenda for the centre ground together with the networks which link people up, and allow a reasonable and evidence based discussion of the future which avoids the plague of social media-led exchanges of abuse.
“Part of its focus will plainly be around the European debate but this will not be its exclusive domain.
“It has to go far wider than that since in many ways the Europe debate is a lightning rod for the whole of politics.”
Asked if Theresa May would be following the work of Mr Blair’s new institute, the Prime Minister’s official spokeswoman said: “I think the PM is pretty busy getting on with the job of running the country.”