Tony Blair’s consultancy asked for $35 million from an oil-rich Arab state to provide advice, The Telegraph can disclose.

The proposal with the United Arab Emirates’ ministry of foreign affairs was worth almost $7 million a year and was due to run for five years, according to company documents.

Tony Blair Associates (TBA), the business set up by the former prime minister on leaving Downing Street, asked for “professional fees” of $6,210,000 a year and an additional $688,000 to cover the company’s annual expenses.

The expenses cover a “contribution towards the transportation costs” for visits by Mr Blair and his team. For the money, Mr Blair promised to fly to Abu Dhabi at least 12 times a year.