Blair briefed by Foreign Office before China trip
Emails reveal personal briefings were provided by Foreign Office staff
TONY BLAIR requested access to diplomatic cables ahead of meetings he held in China to further his business interests, The Daily Tele
graph can disclose. Emails show that the former prime minister arranged for his staff to pick up sensitive papers from the Foreign Office (FCO).
In one email, an FCO official wrote: “I can send you recent diptels [diplomatic telegrams]/reporting to cover political and economic situation if that would be helpful?”
In recent years Mr Blair has been courting influential Chinese political and business leaders and introducing them to clients, including Mubadala, the Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund.
Last night, Andrew Bridgen, a Conservative MP, said the briefings were “surprising” given the commercial nature of Mr Blair’s trips. A spokesman for Mr Blair said the FCO supported many former ministers.
TONY BLAIR has been obtaining sensitive government documents to help him on private business trips to China, The Daily Telegraph can disclose.
The former prime minister has been provided with briefings, including diplomatic cables, by Foreign Office officials for regular visits to Beijing and Shanghai.
The documents include sensitive information from the British Embassy in Beijing which had to be handed over in London to avoid possible interception by China’s security services.
Last month the Telegraph disclosed how Mr Blair has made China a key plank of his business empire, acting as a broker between the country and Abu Dhabi.
Last night Andrew Bridgen, a Conservative MP who has called for Mr Blair to be more transparent about his business activities, said: “It is surprising that given Mr Blair’s commercial interests he is receiving these confidential Foreign Office briefings before his business trips.
“Whether their use is in the UK national interest is open to question. It is almost certainly in Mr Blair’s interest, I should imagine.”
Emails seen by this newspaper show Mr Blair’s staff regularly contact the Foreign Office in advance of his trips to China, often asking for written briefings from officials. He has visited the country 20 times since leaving Downing Street in 2007.
One email sent on Dec 1, 2014 to an official at the British Embassy in Beijing by a member of Mr Blair’s staff read: “Mr Blair will be visiting Beijing next week. It would be great if you have a written update on political and economic situation in China that I could have before the end of this week to give to Mr Blair – he always finds them really useful.”
An official replied confirming that a colleague would “pull some written briefing together for you”.
The official added: “The Ambassador would particularly welcome the opportunity to brief Mr Blair in person during his visit.”
The following day an official emailed Mr Blair’s office again, writing: “I can send you recent diptels [diplomatic telegrams]/reporting to cover political and economic situation if that would be helpful?” An email on Dec 5 from the embassy to Mr Blair’s office confirmed a conversation “about passing more sensitive papers to you in London (rather than here in Beijing).”
His trip is thought to have included meetings with Chinese ministers and the president of a health service company in Beijing.
This weekend one former ambassador said it appeared “a bit odd” that Mr Blair was being provided with sensitive material. “He could have been promoting British interests,” the ambassador said. “But we just don’t know.”
Last month a Telegraph investigation disclosed how Mr Blair has been courting influential Chinese political and business leaders and then introducing them to Mubadala, the Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund he works for.
In February 2012, according to an official website, representatives of his firm Tony Blair Associates signed a “strategic cooperation deal” with the government of Kashgar, the westernmost city in China, to help attract international investment.
Mr Blair’s office said that he “received no payment” for the introductions involving his Abu Dhabi client. A spokesman for Mr Blair also denied any “deals” were struck to advise Kashgar.
Yesterday a spokesman for Mr Blair said: “The FCO supports many MPs, select committees and former ministers when travelling overseas as it is in the country’s interests to do so. Mr Blair is no different in this respect.”
A Foreign Office spokesman said: “All former prime ministers are entitled to briefings before they travel abroad. This could include local political briefing to inform them ahead of any visit and relevant security support as appropriate.”
‘Whether it is in the UK’s interest is open to question. It is almost certainly in Mr Blair’s interest’