Tony Blair's Fortune

Firerush Ventures, which is controlled by Blair, has done nothing illegal, but its license from the FSA to operate “cross-border investment services” in countries with very favourable tax regimes does not play well with Labour voters, with parliamentarians who have been calling for freedom of information on offshore tax havens, or with the families of the low-paid soldiers who been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. The 'Battle Back' project, which is the beneficiary of Blair's donation, seeks to help injured soldiers back into service life. It would be wrong to deny these maimed and traumatised young men any help we can give them. But how much more worthy of admiration Blair's gift would have been had at least some of it been directed towards training in conflict resolution, peacemaking and nation-building. The enabling and nourishing of peace is the best gift which could be given to our military personnel. Placed in the context of Tony Blair's fortune, which is expected to reach £45 million by next year, £5 million is fairly small change. The most recent survey done by the Charities Aid foundation shows that the lowest 10 per cent of earners give three per cent of their weekly income to charity whilst the wealthiest 20 per cent give 0.7 per cent.