Quote:Tony Blair 'signed secret contract with Saudi oil company worth £41,000 a month'

Former prime minister reportedly agreed to help PetroSaudi through his company Tony Blair Associates (TBA) in November 2010


Tony Blair, the former prime minister and Labour leader Photo: Andrew Crowley


By Ben Riley-Smith, Political Correspondent

8:17PM GMT 09 Nov 2014

Tony Blair signed a secret contract with a Saudi oil company worth £41,000 a month and two per cent commission on any lucrative deals he helped secure, it has been claimed.

The former prime minister reportedly agreed to help PetroSaudi through his company Tony Blair Associates (TBA) in November 2010, according to documents obtained by the Sunday Times.

It is believed to be the first time a contract negotiated by Mr Blair since leaving office has been revealed. The work only lasted a few months.

Mr Blair, who holds the diplomatic role of Middle East Peace Envoy, has faced repeated criticism in the past over his high earnings since leaving Downing Street.

His decision to send British troops into Iraq alongside America in 2003 proved highly controversial, triggering ministerial resignations at the time and becoming a defining moment in his premiership.

A PetroSaudi source told the paper: "[Blair] has got deep ties to the Middle East and that is how we got to know him. We know a lot of people in common and they put us in touch. It was a confidential engagement to help us develop business in China."
A spokesperson for Mr Blair said: "Tony Blair Associates worked for PetroSaudi for a period of months over four years ago.
"This was in connection with an issue in the Far East and nothing whatsoever to do with the Middle East or the unpaid ex-officio role of Tony Blair for the Quartet in Palestine.
"TBA has had no involvement in Malaysia and has no knowledge of the matter."