Brown 'to earn $100k a time on lecture circuit'

Gordon Brown is offering his services as a public speaker at $100,000 (£64,000) a time, it was reported last night.

The former prime minister has asked a London speaking agency to put his name forward for engagements in the Middle East and Asia, according to Fraser Nelson, the editor of The Spectator. The fee would be less than that commanded by his predecessor, Tony Blair, or other former world leaders such as Bill Clinton, but would still be a handsome reward for an hour’s speech.

Mr Brown is working on a book, The Financial Crisis, due to be published in the autumn, which will tell the story of the near-meltdown in the banking system two years ago.

He has also indicated that he is keen to pursue charitable works and focus on international development issues.

But Mr Nelson reported on his magazine’s blog that he had learned from an “impeccable source” that the former prime minister, who has not spoken in the Commons since his party’s election defeat, had approached a speaking agency to represent him.

Mr Nelson said: “It appears he is also trying to build up a large nest egg of his own: in the world of public speaking, with six-figure fees.”

Aspokesman for Mr Brown declined to deny the report last night.

He said: “Gordon has, of course, had invitations to speak from around the world and a range of institutions.

“But he is focused on his constituency work and completing his book on the financial crisis.”

According to Mr Nelson, anyone wanting to hire the former prime minister would also have to provide fivestar hotel accommodation, a firstclass seat and three business-class seats. He claimed that Mr Brown’s wife, Sarah, was being offered as an optional extra to present prizes at award ceremonies where he speaks – for an additional fee of $20,000.