Blair hints at peace broker job after quitting

London: Tony Blair has fuelled speculation he could become an international peace broker after he quits Downing Street next year.

In a Christmas interview with BBC Radio 2 presenter Chris Evans, the Prime Minister said he wanted a job with "real purpose".

Blair's remarks are a clear signal that he is looking for a role which would allow him to pursue his interest in brokering peace between Israel and Palestine or combating global terrorism.

Blair returned to Britain after a six-day, seven nation tour of the Middle East in which he visited Gulf states for the first time.

Podcast

He has refused to be drawn on his post-Downing Street plans but is expected to spend time on the lucrative lecture circuit, like former US president Bill Clinton.

In a podcast on the No 10 website, however, the Prime Minister suggested he would not want to do something just for the remuneration. "I think the single thing for me that is most important is that whatever I do afterwards it has a real purpose to it," he said.

"This is a position that once you have occupied it, you have done something that has what I call a real life purpose to it."

Blair also said he would be spending his tenth - and last - Christmas at Chequers.

Meanwhile, the government has agreed to publish for the first time a list of all presents given by Blair and other ministers to foreign dignitaries. The move comes after a Freedom of Information request from the Evening Standard.

- Evening Standard