Gordon Brown has signed up with a London agency to attend speaking events at $100,000 (£64,000) a time, it was reported. Brown has not spoken in the House of Commons since he stood down as Labour leader, despite remaining MP for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath, and has only been seen in the chamber on a handful of occasions. He has been writing a book, The Financial Crisis, on how Britain dealt with the economic downturn. But the Spectator magazine's website hasreported that Brown had signed up with an agency that could book him in to speak in the Middle East and Asia, commanding $100,000 a time to speak on areas covered by the book.
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You bet I'm smiling
Interest is said to be particularly high in the Gulf, and anyone who booked him to speak would also have to stump up for five-star hotel accommodation, as well as one first-class and three business-class seats. Brown's wife, Sarah, can also charge an appearance fee of $20,000. The report that Brown may have joined the lecture circuit was greeted with surprise since he has always said he will not leave political life to cash in on his experience as prime minister, preferring a more low-key life instead.
Brown always favourably contrasted his intentions with how Tony Blair made millions on the lecture circuit within months of leaving public office. Last year Blair became the world's highest paid public speaker, by one estimate. It was reported that the former prime minister was paid almost £400,000 for two speeches he delivered on the same day in the Philippines, contributing to a personal fortune estimated at £15m. Blair plans to donate the proceeds of his autobiography, including the reported £4.6m advance, to the Royal British Legion
