Despots ‘fear working with Blair because of HIS bad reputation’!

DESPOTS using Tony Blair’s consultancy started turning their backs on his services because of his tarnished reputation, his biographer claimed yesterday.

It came days after the former prime minister announced he was closing his money-making empire to concentrate on charity work.

It has been suggested he was desperately trying to salvage his reputation amid criticism of his decision to involve Britain in the 2003 invasion of Iraq and questions about the company he keeps.

Sir John Chilcot’s inquiry into the Iraq war, published earlier this year, held back from a full assault on Mr Blair, but made clear that multiple failures in government planning had helped leave the Middle East in chaos.

Biographer Tom Bower claimed: ‘The genius of the spin master has not faded – instead of adding to his fortune, estimated to be at least £50million, Mr Blair said he would devote his time and money

‘Few were fooled’

to charitable work. Few of his erstwhile clients were fooled by his protestations of generosity. Over the past year, lucrative retainers have evaporated.’

Writing in The Sunday Times, the author of Broken Vows: Tony Blair – The Tragedy of Power added: ‘Tony Blair Associates, the consultancy he created after resigning as prime minister in 2007, has progressively lost many of its clients, including the best from Kazakhstan, Colombia, Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi.

‘In unison, dictators and fund managers decided that Mr Blair had not delivered on his promises of access and deals.’

Mr Bower continued: ‘There was also embarrassment about being associated with a man criticised in the Chilcot report… Powerful figures disliked being represented by a tarnished politician.’

Mr Blair’s spokesman did not respond to requests for comment last night.