Blair lists Cherie's earnings on MP register

Thursday, 17 November 2005 12:00 AM

Tony Blair has listed his wife's income from speaking engagements and her book promotion tour on the register of MPs' interests.

The prime minister said it was right to include details of Cherie's speeches in the US, Australia and New Zealand as they "included some discussion of my wife's life in No 10 Downing Street".

There are no details of the sums of money earned by Mrs Blair while promoting her book The Goldfish Bowl, but the declaration prompted calls for her to give the money she earned to charity.

Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker said: "We now have it in black and white from the prime minister himself that his wife has been using Number 10 and her connections there to make private profit for herself.

"This is improper and demeaning for someone in her position. The profit she has made on the back of her connection with Number 10 should now be given to charity."

The register of interests says spouses' interests should be mentioned if "they arise out of their relative's position as a member or if they are held jointly with, or by, the member".

No 10 previously insisted Mrs Blair's speaking engagements were as a private citizen and human rights lawyer.

Yesterday, the prime minister's official spokesman said Mr Blair registered his wife's activities in July "to err on the side of caution" and to be "open and transparent".

Mr Blair listed two flats in Bristol and a house in London from which "rental income is received". He also declared a free 26-day stay at singer Sir Cliff Richard's Barbados villa in August, saying he made a donation to charity "in lieu" of the hospitality.

Elsewhere, William Hague topped the list of MPs' outside earnings, taking at least £685,000 in the year up to November 1st from speeches - for which he received up to £15,000 a time - advisory jobs and directorships, and a newspaper column, which gained him more than £95,000.

Conservative MP and Spectator editor Boris Johnson netted at least £70,000 from his column in the
Daily Telegraph, while speeches made him £60,000.

Ann Widdecombe, another Tory MP, was another high earner, picking up more than £100,000 from appearances on shows such as Grumpy Old Women and Celebrity Fit Club, as well as up to £100,000 for writing books.

For the full register of MPs' interests, visit
" target="_blank">www.parliament.uk.

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