Tony Blair has claimed more than £1m in taxpayers’ cash to help fund his role in public life — without submitting a single receipt for public scrutiny.

The former prime minister has invoiced the Cabinet Office for an allowance worth up to £115,000 a year to help pay for his public duties after leaving government. Since he stood down as prime minister in June 2007, he has claimed £1,077,888 from public funds.

The allowance, called the public duty cost allowance (PDCA), was introduced to provide financial support for former prime ministers who remain active in public life.

It can be used to help fund staff who are dealing with correspondence and pay expenses for attending official events.

The confidential arrangements surrounding the allowance emerged in