Cherie Blair spoke at a conference in Spain on Monday as the “British first lady”, despite coming under increasing criticism for exploiting her position as wife of the Prime Minister.
Programme notes for the event in Santiago de Compo-stela, Galicia, billed her as “wife of Tony Blair”, just as they had for her recent speaking engagement in Washington. Downing Street refused to comment on whether Mrs Blair was paid for her visit. Federico Pérez, a spokesman for the cultural department of the regional government, said that Mrs Blair received travel and accommodation expenses, but he did not know whether she had received a fee.
Mrs Blair delivered a speech on human rights, planted an olive tree and was serenaded by Galician pipers.