LONDON -- Former prime minister Tony Blair was caught travelling on a train without a ticket and any cash to pay the fare, his spokesman said on Wednesday.
Blair was confronted by a ticket inspector as he travelled to London's Heathrow airport to catch a flight to the United States on Monday, spokesman Matthew Doyle said.
"Mr Blair just didn't have any cash on him," Doyle said. "One of the policemen travelling with him offered to pay for the ticket, but the ticket inspector said it wasn't necessary."
A ticket should cost 24.50 pounds (49 dollars, 30 euros).
Blair, 54, is believed to have earned around one million dollars on the speaking circuit since standing down in June after a decade in charge.
Soon after leaving office, he took up a post as the Middle East envoy for the international Quartet of the European Union, Russia, the United Nations and the United States.
He also has a lucrative part-time post as advisor to Wall Street bank JP Morgan and advises Swiss company Zurich Financial Services on a range of issues including climate change.
Blair's wife Cherie, a judge, was fined after being caught riding a train without a ticket on her way to a court case in Luton, just north of London, in 2000.
RE:Former British PM caught riding without a ticket
by aus ant on Apr 24, 2008 10:34 AM Permalink
Arre Bhai, Spider, What's the big deal. Come and check the trains of bihar and u will find lots and lots of Blairs and Cheries. Just 'cos they are firangi, u put it up here. Our own desis get no recognition!
