Peer earns more as a public speaker than £134k he was paid while in the Cabinet
WILLIAM Hague is raking in £50,000 a week as an after-dinner speaker.
The former Tory leader and Foreign Secretary has been hired for a string of events since he left frontline politics. It means he can earn more in a few weeks than the £134,000 he was paid as a Cabinet minister.
Experts predict that with book contracts and royalties he will soon make £1million. Lord Hague is signed up with JLA, Britain’s top after-dinner speaker agency, which says he has “true Yorkshire wit and natural comic timing”.
Described as “the David Beckham of toasting” by Hillary Clinton, his AA rating means his fee is “over £25,000”.
Only a handful of others command the same fee, including astronaut Buzz Aldrin.
Ex-Lib Dem leader Paddy Ashdown gets £5,000 to £10,000, while former home secretary David Blunkett earns £2,500 to £5,000.
Lord Hague, who made £820,000 for writing, speaking and TV appearances in his last political break, recently made two speeches in eight days, according to Lords records.
The week after he flew to Dubai for two engagements in 48 hours.