Moonlighting MPs
I seldom read the tabloid newspapers, but sometimes you've got to hand it to them - they are great at ferreting out stories - that expose the behaviour of the 'great and good'.
Here's one from the Mail on Sunday - about the exploits of former Prime Minister, Gordon Brown - who likes to project a 'hair shirt' image - as far as his personal lifestyle is concerned.
Yet he apparently insists on first-class travel and five star accommodation - when abroad on lucrative speaking engagements - while 'moonlighting' from his day job as an MP.
"Gordon Brown gave his first paid speech since leaving Downing Street yesterday, earning an estimated £60,000.
Mr Brown – who has barely been seen in public since he stepped down as Prime Minister in May – was a keynote speaker at a summit in New Delhi, the Indian capital.
He gave a 50-minute speech on the global economic crisis and how to prevent another one, which is estimated to have earned him around £1,200 per minute.
A spokeswoman for Mr Brown declined to confirm or deny the figure. But she said the money from the speech would help to cover the costs of a company he has set up to pursue a career of writing and lecture tours.
Mr Brown is following in the footsteps of Tony Blair, who commands fees of up to £200,000 for speaking engagements.
Unlike Mr Blair, Mr Brown has remained a backbench MP. It is believed that he has timed his entry into the lucrative speaker circuit so he can publicise his new book, Beyond The Crash, which is published next month.
In August it was reported that Mr Brown had joined a London-based speakers’ bureau, agreeing to give after-dinner speeches for £64,000 per event.
He also agreed to offer the services of his wife Sarah, who could present awards or prizes at the events with him for £12,000 at a time.
It is also understood that Mr Brown has asked that the host company offers him first-class travel and five-star hotel accommodation.
Anand Bhardwaj, one of the chief organisers of the event in India, said last night that they provided Mr Brown with flights".
Here's one from the Mail on Sunday - about the exploits of former Prime Minister, Gordon Brown - who likes to project a 'hair shirt' image - as far as his personal lifestyle is concerned.
Yet he apparently insists on first-class travel and five star accommodation - when abroad on lucrative speaking engagements - while 'moonlighting' from his day job as an MP.
"Gordon Brown gave his first paid speech since leaving Downing Street yesterday, earning an estimated £60,000.
Mr Brown – who has barely been seen in public since he stepped down as Prime Minister in May – was a keynote speaker at a summit in New Delhi, the Indian capital.
He gave a 50-minute speech on the global economic crisis and how to prevent another one, which is estimated to have earned him around £1,200 per minute.
A spokeswoman for Mr Brown declined to confirm or deny the figure. But she said the money from the speech would help to cover the costs of a company he has set up to pursue a career of writing and lecture tours.
Mr Brown is following in the footsteps of Tony Blair, who commands fees of up to £200,000 for speaking engagements.
Unlike Mr Blair, Mr Brown has remained a backbench MP. It is believed that he has timed his entry into the lucrative speaker circuit so he can publicise his new book, Beyond The Crash, which is published next month.
In August it was reported that Mr Brown had joined a London-based speakers’ bureau, agreeing to give after-dinner speeches for £64,000 per event.
He also agreed to offer the services of his wife Sarah, who could present awards or prizes at the events with him for £12,000 at a time.
It is also understood that Mr Brown has asked that the host company offers him first-class travel and five-star hotel accommodation.
Anand Bhardwaj, one of the chief organisers of the event in India, said last night that they provided Mr Brown with flights".
