The secret of British Prime Minister Tony Blair famous all-year healthy glow has been revealed — his spends almost twice as much on make-up as the average British woman.
Figures released by Downing Street in answer to a parliamentary question show that Blair spent more than £1 800 (R20 900) on make-up and make-up artists over the past six years.
In contrast, the average British woman spends £195 (about R2 200) a year on both make-up and skin care.
The written answer — released quietly on Thursday, the final day of the parliamentary session before MPs begin their summer break — said that between 1999 and 2005, Downing Street paid out £1 050,22 in cosmetics for the prime minister’s media appearances.
In the past two years, a further £791,20 was spent on make-up artists.
In the run-up to the May general election, many pundits noted that Blair had acquired a suspiciously orange glow.
The prime minister insisted he had merely picked up a tan while sitting in his garden during the less-than-tropical month of April. — AFP