180 pounds for a "photo opportunity with Tony Blair"

London, Sep 27(ANI): Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has been cashing it up by attending various lecture events and corporate work, and for a latest event, admirers have paid 180 pounds to have a photograph with him.

Blair will attend the Surrey Regional Economic Summit in British Columbia on October 6, during which as many as 100 people will be whisked through in a one-hour session, where they would get an opportunity to meet and have photographs taken with the former prime minister.

The 100 premium tickets for the sold out event costs about 420 pounds, and that includes a "photo opportunity with Tony Blair" and the best seats.

The promotional material for the event also states that 500 tickets are available for 180 pound less, but "photo opportunity not included".

"It's a unique souvenir. We only have 100 of the top-price option, with a photo opportunity with Blair. The people who are doing this are quite keen and obviously follow his career," The Times quoted Norman Stowe, one of the organizers of the event, as saying.

"There is a process where you can put a lot of people through in a very short amount of time for the photographs. It doesn't take more than three or four seconds per person," he added.

Blair is attending the event for about two hours and will speak for 30 minutes. His fee has not been disclosed, but is likely to be more than 100,000 pounds.

Blair is said to be concentrating his efforts on his unpaid role as a special envoy in the Middle East, on climate change and on his charitable work. However, appearances on the lecture circuit and corporate work are building up his personal fortune.

Earlier in March this year, he reportedly earned nearly 400,000 pounds for two speeches in the Philippines. (ANI)