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Tony Blair's job as Middle East peace envoy costs taxpayers £500,000
By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 10:45 AM on 10th February 2009
British taxpayers have spent nearly £500,000 on Tony Blair's attempts to
secure a lasting peace in the Middle East, new figures showed today.
The Foreign Office has footed a £400,000 bill towards office costs and
expenses for the former prime minister.
Four civil servants and a political analyst have also been sent to work
with Mr Blair, costing at least £100,000.
The figures emerged amid growing discontent over Mr Blair's job
representing the 'quartet' of UN, America, the EU and Russia on the
peace process.
Mr Blair has had little impact on stopping the violence in Gaza and
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has now taken the lead in finding a
diplomatic solution.
Just as damaging for Mr Blair, President Barack Obama has also
appointed former Northern Ireland peace expert George Mitchell as his
own special envoy for the Middle East. Mr Blair visits the region one
week every month.
His defenders point out that each of the members of the 'quartet' are
funding his role.
Mr Blair is believed to have made more than £15 million since leaving
office in June 2007 from consultancies, book deals and speeches.
However, the former prime minister has faced accusations, which he
denies, that his business activities, including working for leading
financial institutions, have distracted from his Middle East task.
Http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1140615/Tony-Blairs-
job-Middle-East-peace-envoy-costs-taxpayers-500-000.html
By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 10:45 AM on 10th February 2009
British taxpayers have spent nearly £500,000 on Tony Blair's attempts to
secure a lasting peace in the Middle East, new figures showed today.
The Foreign Office has footed a £400,000 bill towards office costs and
expenses for the former prime minister.
Four civil servants and a political analyst have also been sent to work
with Mr Blair, costing at least £100,000.
The figures emerged amid growing discontent over Mr Blair's job
representing the 'quartet' of UN, America, the EU and Russia on the
peace process.
Mr Blair has had little impact on stopping the violence in Gaza and
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has now taken the lead in finding a
diplomatic solution.
Just as damaging for Mr Blair, President Barack Obama has also
appointed former Northern Ireland peace expert George Mitchell as his
own special envoy for the Middle East. Mr Blair visits the region one
week every month.
His defenders point out that each of the members of the 'quartet' are
funding his role.
Mr Blair is believed to have made more than £15 million since leaving
office in June 2007 from consultancies, book deals and speeches.
However, the former prime minister has faced accusations, which he
denies, that his business activities, including working for leading
financial institutions, have distracted from his Middle East task.
Http://www.dailymai
job-Middle-East-
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