Tony Blair: I could make much more money

[AtW]

Tony Blair has likened himself to Bill Gates, the world’s richest man, and suggested he could make five times as many lucrative speeches as he does now

The former prime minister defended his moneymaking activities since leaving office, which have seen him earn an estimated £14 million in little more than two years. He said the bulk of his time is actually spent on unpaid political and charity work.

As well as a £2 million-a-year advisory job with a US investment bank and a lucrative contract to write his memoirs, Mr Blair earns hundreds of thousands of pounds for paid speeches.

Earlier this year, it was reported that he was paid nearly £400,000 for two 30-minute speeches during a 36-hour visit to the Philippines.

Mr Blair said that, aged 56, he is young enough to pursue a second career and compared himself to Mr Gates, the Microsoft founder and philanthropist whose personal wealth is estimated at $40 billion.

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AtW's comment: the only speech I'd pay him for is the one he'd have to make in court whilst pleading guilty to numerous charges that should have been brought against him years ago. That would be a very popular Pay-Per-View event.

[Troll]

Stab-stab-stabbity-stab-stab

[HairyArsedBloke]

AtW's comment: the only speech I'd pay him for is the one he'd have to make in court whilst pleading guilty to numerous charges that should have been brought against him years ago. That would be a very popular Pay-Per-View event.

Not as popular as this event.

[Doggy Styles]

Tony Blair has likened himself to Bill Gates, the world’s richest man...

...Mr Blair said that, aged 56, he is young enough to pursue a second career and compared himself to Mr Gates, the Microsoft founder and philanthropist whose personal wealth is estimated at $40 billion.

Bill Gates is a reasonably clever bloke, whose life's work helps a billion people in their lives, and who created employment for a million more.

I can't think of a single similarity between him and Tony Blair.

[d000hg]

No reason to suggest Tony's not a clever bloke. Got to be pretty clever to manipulate your way to party leadership.

[AtW]

Got to be pretty clever to manipulate your way to party leadership.

This requires other talents more than cleverness: the key ability required is lack of morals in order to abuse the trust of people who believed his words.

[Doggy Styles]

No reason to suggest Tony's not a clever bloke. Got to be pretty clever to manipulate your way to party leadership.

That is a fair point.

I suppose I was referring to knowledge, and abilities in problem-solving and judgement, that kind of thing. But being mealy-mouthed is an ability in its own right if you can do it well.