Yahoo Finance Tony Blair accused of seeking EU funding while campaigning for second referendum
Former Prime Minister Tony Blair has been accused of seeking funding from the EU while calling for a second referendum.
Mr Blair, a vocal opponent of Brexit, was reportedly requesting funding for the Tony Blair Institute from EU member states.
According to The Sunday Telegraph, the former Labour leader’s company was sending emails which suggested it was prepared to relocate to Europe in the event of a no deal Brexit.
Following the revelations on Sunday, a TBI spokesman told the newspaper that the institute was "perfectly entitled to seek EU funding for work relevant to EU funding streams".
Mr Blair was also said to have held talks with officials about striking a funding agreement between the European Commission and the TBI.
All meetings were reportedly declared in the Commission's transparency register.
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Leaked documents obtained by the Sunday Telelgraph showed an EU official wrote memo about one conference in which they said “financial support” had been discussed.
“The meeting was an introduction for the TBI on EU’s development cooperation,” the newspaper quoted the official as saying.
"They expressed interest to work closer with the EU and to explore opportunities to receive financial support.”
A spokesman for the TBI told the newspaper: “TBI is perfectly entitled to seek EU funding for work relevant to EU funding streams.
“As a matter of fact we have not yet submitted a formal application, so no funding has been received.
“The idea there is a connection with Mr Blair’s opposition to Brexit is absurd.”
