Cherie joins Clinton, Major and Bono on the lucrative US speaking circuit

[Nambe]

Independent Digital (UK) Ltd
First Lady for hire: Cherie joins Clinton, Major and Bono on the lucrative US speaking circuit

Despite earning £125,000 a year as one of Britain's leading human rights lawyers, Cherie Blair has a reputation for thrift: witness her partiality to second-hand shoes touted on the eBay website.

But the Prime Minister's wife may soon feel that she can get away with a little more extravagance. She has just been signed up by the Harry Walker Agency, one of the glitziest celebrity bookers in New York. Their job is to find clients to hire Mrs Blair for speaking engagements, a sideline that could propel her earnings into the stratosphere. Those already on the agency's books include Bono of U2, Henry Kissinger and Bill Clinton, who can command fees of £160,000 a time for public engagements.

Baroness Thatcher and John Major - whose speaking style was ridiculed on Spitting Image - both earned small fortunes on speaking tours in the US. A leaked e-mail from the agency said Mrs Blair was available for suitable speaking engagements, providing the price was right, on 26, 27 and 29 October, with a "value for money" guarantee. ..

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[Tight_rope]

1. I wouldn't pick a penny off the street to pay to hear her speak....n/t