Blair condemned over £240,000 China speech

Tony Blair was condemned last night over claims he was paid £240,000 for a speech in China.

The former prime minister is said to have received the money for a three-hour tour of a housing development and addressing businessmen.

He was also offered a £ 2.4million villa on the complex in the city of Dongguan, two hours north of Hong Kong, it was reported.

His speech on Tuesday was branded boring, cliched and unimpressive by local newspapers.

The hostile press reception appeared to have affected Mr Blair on Wednesday, when he barred reporters from another speech.Government officials confirmed Mr Blair had paid nearly £80,000 in income and business tax - meaning he will bank about £156,000 for the whirlwind visit.

Mr Blair was in China for three days.

Since leaving Downing Street he has been spending just ten days a month in his much-vaunted role as peace envoy to the Middle East on behalf of the United Nations.

LibDem MP Norman Baker said: "It is demeaning that someone in his position is hawking himself around like a political prostitute."

Mr Blair's spokesman declined to comment.