Blair Inc.: The Man Behind the Mask - Tapa dura

Since leaving office in 2007, the empire of Tony Blair has grown exponentially. As a businessman he has been unprecedentedly successful for a former public servant, with a large property portfolio and an estimated GBP80 million of earnings accrued in just a few short years. But how has he managed to achieve this? Being an ex-Prime Minister comes with certain advantages, and besides his excellent state pension and twenty-four-hour security team, Blair enjoys the best contacts that money can buy - as do those willing to pay him for access to those contacts. Consequently, Tony Blair Associates' clients can be found around the world, and include the controversial presidents of Kazakhstan and Burma. There is also Blair's role as special envoy in the Middle East. While his record as a peacemaker is in doubt, the position has brought him into contact with a variety of oil-rich potentates in the region who now number among his most profitable clients. Blair Inc.: The Man behind the Mask takes a close look at the complex financial structures in Blair's world. From the many layers of tax liability to the multiple conflicts of interest produced by his increasing web of relationships, this book exposes the private dealings of this very public figure.

Francis Beckett is a journalist, broadcaster, playwright, and historian. He is the author of 16 books, including "Marching to the Fault Line," "Money Makes You Happy," and "The Survivor: Tony Blair in Peace and War." David Hencke is a journalist and writer, and was named Political Journalist of the Year at the British Journalism Awards in 2012. He is the author of "Colleges in Crisis," "The Blairs and their Court," and "Marching to the Fault Line." Nick Kochan is a financial and political journalist and the author of "Bankrupt!: The BCCI Fraud," "Corruption: The New Corporate Challenge," and "What Happened?: And Other Questions Everyone is Asking About the Credit Crunch."