Blair leads Team Britain
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.THE LIST of business dignitaries and celebrities accompanying the Prime Minister on his trip to China is designed to impress his hosts with all that is supposedly best about the UK.
A top television chef, Nick Nairn, will fly with a batch of British food to cook at a trade fair in Shanghai. The chairman of Rolls-Royce will be in attendance to trumpet the virtues of his aero engine company. And the chairman of British Aerospace, which has been in the news for exporting Hawk jets to Indonesia, will also be there.
Mr Blair's delegation will consist of 25 people, including his wife, Cherie, and his press secretary, Alastair Campbell. There will be officials from the Foreign Office, Downing Street and the Department of Trade and Industry as well as telecommunications experts and security staff.
In addition to the main delegation there will be 22 business people and 32 journalists. There have also been reports that Mrs Blair will take her personal hairdresser with her, as she did on at least one previous trip.
Among the business representatives will be one or two unlikely names, including Margaret Thatcher's former political adviser, Sir Charles Powell. Sir Charles, the brother of Mr Blair's chief of staff Jonathan Powell, is on the trip as president of the China-British Business Council.
Lord Sterling of Plaistow will attend as chairman of The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O).
Heavy engineering and energy companies make up alarge portion of the delegation, with Alstom, British Petroleum, Shell and Perkins Engineering on the list.
Sir Clive Thompson, president of the Confederation of British Industry, will be there as will Lord Marshall of Knightsbridge, chairman of British Airways.
During the trip Mr Blair will attend a British Chamber of Commerce dinner and will open new offices for Royal and Sun Alliance Insurance, whose chief executive, Robert Mendelsohn, will be among the business delegation. Mr Blair will also visit the stock exchange in Shanghai before visiting the trade fair to promote British food and goods.
Mrs Blair will attend British Law Week.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments