Tony Blair Associates
FormationDecember, 2008[1]
DissolvedSeptember 2016
Location
Region served
Worldwide
Leadern/a
Websitewww.tonyblairoffice.org/pages/tony-blair-associates

Tony Blair Associates (TBA) was an umbrella organisation established by Tony Blair to "allow him to provide, in partnership with others, strategic advice on a commercial and pro bono basis, on political and economic trends and governmental reform".[2] The profits from the firm went towards supporting Blair's "work on faith, Africa and climate change".[3] The firm was closed down in September 2016.[4]

History

Former rebel leader Hashim Thaçi and Tony Blair with Declaration of Independence of Kosovo

Blair, with his Quartet and TBA roles, worked with the Kazakh government, advising the regime on judicial, economic and political reforms.[5]

In June 2014, Blair was looking for an office Abu Dhabi to help attract middle-eastern business for TBA. By July, Blair had been hired to advise on the export of natural gas from Azerbaijan to Europe, a project being run by a consortium of companies led by BP.[6]

Criticism

Blair was subjected to criticism for potential conflicts of interest between his diplomatic role as a Middle East peace envoy and his work with Tony Blair Associates,[7][8][9] and a number of prominent critics even called for him to be sacked from his peace envoy role.[10]

Blair was subject to criticism after accusations of "whitewashing" the image and human rights record of the regime in Kazakhstan.[5] In particular, opposition activists published an open letter in a Kazakh newspaper, Respublika, claiming Blair would have "blood on his hands" if did not stop assisting President Nursultan Nazarbayev.[citation needed] Blair responded to such criticism by saying his choice to advise the country was an example of how he could "nudge controversial figures on a progressive path of reform" and stated that he received no personal profit from this advisory role.[11] The Kazakhstan foreign minister said that the country was "honoured and privileged" to be receiving advice from Blair.[12][13]

Blair was reported to have accepted a business advisory role with President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt, a situation deemed incompatible with his role as Middle East peace envoy;[14] Blair described the report as "nonsense".[15]

References

  1. ^ "Tony Blair's (Private) Interests in The Secret World of Oil". Verso. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  2. ^ Tony Blair Inc: a nice little earner The Sunday Times, 22 February 2009
  3. ^ Nicholas, Watt (30 June 2013). "How Tony Blair paved way for first visit by serving British PM to Kazakhstan". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 September 2013.
  4. ^ Pickard, Jim (20 September 2016). "Tony Blair shuts down advisory firm that made him millions". The Financial Times. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  5. ^ a b Kerbaj, Richard; Ungoed-Thomas, Jon; Fortson, Danny (23 September 2012). "Blair in £16m deal with Kazakhs". The Sunday Times. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
  6. ^ Chazan, Guy. "Tony Blair to advise on Azerbaijan gas project". www.ft.com. Financial Times. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
  7. ^ Tony Blair's Byzantine world of advisers and lucrative deals The Daily Telegraph, 24 September 2011
  8. ^ On the desert trail of Tony Blair's millions The Daily Telegraph, 24 September 2011
  9. ^ The Wonderful World of Tony Blair
  10. ^ "An appeal to the Quartet on the Middle East to sack Tony Blair". theguardian.com. 24 June 2014. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  11. ^ Nicholas, Watts (30 June 2013). "How Tony Blair paved way for first visit by serving British PM to Kazakhstan". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 September 2013.
  12. ^ Watt, Nicholas (30 June 2013). "Kazakhstan praises Cameron and Blair for helping improving country's image". theguardian.com. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
  13. ^ Swinford, Steven (30 June 2013). "Oil-rich Kazakhstan dictatorship boasts of British support". telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
  14. ^ Milne, Seumas (2 July 2014). "Tony Blair to advise Egypt president Sisi on economic reform". theguardian.com. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  15. ^ Haaretz staff (3 July 2014). "Tony Blair denies he signed on as Egyptian president's adviser". haaretz.com. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
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