Good Governance

If there is one person that is grateful to GB these days, it must be Tony Blair. Being forced out of office last year, not only he has managed to escape almost unscatched politically (How many of us blame him, rather than GB, for all that happens now ? Would it be easy for him to dump all the blame for financial disaster on his chancellor, were he still in power ? I imagine the answers to these questions are "Not so many" and "Probably not, even for a master of spin like Tony" ), but it also allowed him to cash in on his ability to look and sound very smart while saying trivial things.

This is the details of his earnings since leaving office:

Þ Speaking fees: £2.5 million per annum
Þ Advance for memoirs: £4.6 million
Þ Advisory role with JPMorgan Chase: £2 million pa
Þ Advisory role with Zurich financial services: £500,000 pa
Þ Prime Ministerial pension: £63,468
Þ Allowance for private office: £84,000
Þ Contract to advise Kuwaiti leaders on good governance: £1 million
Total to June 2009: £15,894,936

Personally, I would not pay £1 to hear what Tony has to say or what Tony's biographers would write on his behald - but it's probably just me, as apparently there are a lot of people who think otherwise. And considering that, it is hardly surprising that JP Morgan and Zurich want to boost their credentials with the popular public by claiming to listen to Tony's advise.

Also, it would seem surprising that the taxpayer is asked to provide £150 K a year to accomodate a pensioner, who looks to be doing just alright without government taking care of him. But if we pay for Jacqui's bathplug, I guess it's ok to pay off half of Tony's mortgages - because as we've been told already, if somebody exploits the rules, the problem is with the rules rather than with people exploiting them.

But I find myself stunned with the last bit of Mr Blair's additional income.

Kuwaiti leaders paying £1 million to Tony Blair to be advised on good governing ?

Just trying to follow the line of thinking of a certain Kuwaiti leader:

"My country is one of the richest in the world per capita. I have the oldest directly elected parliament among Arab states. My people are generally happy and there is no discontent. But something is missing. How can I make sure I am a good governor ?

I'll probably have to ask somebody's advise.

Tony Blair ? Let's see.

After 10 year in power, the nation finances are in one of the worst conditions of civilised world. Huge parts of society are addicted to benefits. There are millions of illegal immigrants. Army is involved in two wars, which people of the country genuinely objected. In fact, to get involved in one of the wars, Blair had to lie to anybody who would listen.

Throughout 10 years of his rule, filled with monthly scandals of any imaginable sort, he could not control his own chancellor, and eventually succumbed to his pressure and left the office without completing the term for which he was elected.

Yes, that's the man. This is the one that I am going to ask about Good Governing" ...