William Hague: Earnings spree

William Hague has built up a hugely lucrative sideline delivering speeches and writing newspaper articles, according to the latest register of MPs' interests.

The former Conservative leader discloses earning of £45,001 to £50,000 as parliamentary adviser to the JCB Group and £65,001 to £70,000 as a member of the 'political council' of Terra Firma Capital Partners.

And a six month contract to write articles for the News of the World earns a further £95,001 to £100,000.

In addition, some 53 paid speaking engagements in the last 12 months will have earned Hague at least £385,000.

Other lucrative sidelines include a 100 per cent shareholding in a company "established to receive income and make payments relating to my book on William Pitt The Younger and related or similar activities", along with two other remunerated directorships.

Respect MP George Galloway declared £75,001 to £80,000 of earnings for a Mail on Sunday column.

He also detailed an advance of up to £30,000 for the 'I'm not the only one' book, and up to £15,000 for 15 events believed to be his 'an audience with' speaking series.

Labour

The register also includes Tony Blair's declaration that in August 2005, "accompanied by my family I spent 26 nights at a private villa in Barbados owned by Sir Cliff Richard".

"I have made a charitable donation in lieu of the cost of this accommodation. I paid for all other expenses including flights," it adds.

It also notes that Cherie Blair "received fees for speaking engagements" between February and June 2005.

The prime minister also declares ownership of two flats in Bristol and a house in London from which rental income is received.

Chancellor Gordon Brown says that his wife and baby have received two upgrades from Virgin Atlantic.

Northern Ireland secretary Peter Hain reveals the he occasionally accepts "hospitality from Sky Sports to attend Chelsea Football Club for some of Chelsea's home matches".

Recently resigned minister David Blunkett  declares earnings of between £15,001 and £20,000 from Indepen Consulting Limited for "seminars on relationship between government and business".

His work as an adviser to charity Organisation for Research and Technology, which also contributed to his resignation, fell into the same earnings bracket.

Blunkett's fee for four weekly columns in the Mirror was between £10,001 and £15,000.

Former cabinet minister Alan Milburn is representative of many MPs, especially former ministers, in declaring fees for articles in a range of newspapers - in his case the Times, Guardian and News of the World.

Labour backbencher Diane Abbott is revealed to have earned up to £85,000 from TV appearances, newspaper articles and speaking engagements.

Conservatives

Shadow education secretary David Cameron reveals that helicopter and plane trips between London and Blackpool for this year's autumn conference were paid for by supporters.

And David Davis, the shadow home secretary, declares support for his leadership bid and office costs from a range of business figures and author Frederick Forsyth.

Conservative leader Michael Howard says he received a Christmas hamper from the Sultan of Brunei.

Iain Duncan Smith received "assistance from the Conservative Party for legal bills incurred whilst leader of HM Opposition".

And Ann Widdecombe received an advance of £100,000 "plus performance bonuses" for her next two books.

Her appearance on ITV's Celebrity Fit Club earned between £5,001 and £10,000, while her fee from the BBC for a series of programmes as a "roving agony aunt" was between £25,001 and £30,000.

Henley MP Boris Johnson, in addition to being editor of the Spectator magazine, earned up to £75,000 for his column in the Telegraph.

And Conservative chairman Francis Maude declares nine remunerated directorships.