For the full story you’ll need to read page 2 of today’s FT but I’ve been doing some calculations on Gordon Brown’s income based on the House of Commons register.
The total is £1.07m. This does not include the £123,429 which he has given to charity.
The former prime minister is paid up to £62,000 (though typically about half that) for speeches around the world. These have been to the likes of Visa International, Credit Suisse, Pimco and SkyBridge Capital. He has also received £181,468 to be “global leader in residence” at New York University and £86,324 to be chairman of the World Economic Forum policy co-ordination group.
Brown says he has not earned “one penny” for himself. Instead the money “funds Sarah’s and Mr Brown’s staff for continuing service”. The spokeswoman for the former prime minister won’t say how many staff the couple employ beyond those aides already employed in Fife and the Commons through MPs’ expenses.
Their website says: “We are budgeting to meet salaries, accommodation costs and staff expenses of around £550,000 a year.” I’m told there are a handful of staff working at Broadgate Tower in the offices of Reed Smith, whose partner David Boutcher is company secretary for the Browns’ organisation.
We’ve also had a look at the earnings of some other former cabinet ministers from the last Labour government, including David Miliband’s £470,000 for various roles.
Jim Pickard
Kiran Stacey