Former MPs could be set to earn themselves a small fortune in the months after the election, potentially picking up hundreds of thousands of pounds for a few hours work. Before the election even takes place, 132 MPs have chosen not to stand again on July 4, including many high-profile figures.
Former prime minister Theresa May, former deputy prime minister Dominic Raab and current levelling-up secretary Michael Gove have all stood down, as did former Labour ministers Harriet Harman and Dame Margaret Hodge. And many of them could now find themselves in demand as keynote and after-dinner speakers a potentially lucrative career.
Boris Johnson was famously paid more than £276,000 for a single speech in 2022, and Bill Clinton once received £600,000 to address a telecom conference in China. With the ability to appeal to a wide range of audiences and share behind-the-scenes stories, political speakers are in high demand.
Speaker bureau Speakers Corner said that free from the shackles of political protocols, ex-politicians can afford to be more candid in their speeches. They feel more comfortable sharing their thoughts and have more freedom to express personal views that may differ from their previous party-view.
Nick Gold, Managing Director of Speakers Corner, said: “The one thing these individuals have in common is that they know how to inspire an audience. Once you’ve handled the hecklers in the House of Commons, a keynote speaking engagement is a walk in the park.”
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Based on client enquiries through the Speaker’s Corner Agency, these are currently the most in-demand political speakers:
1. Ayesha Hazarika
Ayesha spent 9 years guiding senior party leaders in Government and the Opposition. She’s now gone back to her days of stand-up -combining anecdotal tales with a political message.
2. Rory Stewart
Rory served as an MP, as a minister in four departments of the British Government and as a Cabinet minister as Secretary of State for International Development.
3. Alastair Campbell
Alastair Campbell is a writer, podcaster, communicator, campaigner, and strategist, best known for his role as Tony Blair ’s spokesperson and director of communications.
4. Ed Balls
Ed Balls is best-known for his position as UK Shadow Chancellor from 2011 to 2015, amongst other political accolades, such as his role as education secretary and position as Chief Economic advisor to the treasury. Ed is also known for his time on Strictly and Good Morning Britain.
5. Lewis Goodall
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Lewis is the Analysis & Investigations Editor at Global Radio and co-presenter of The News Agents podcast, a Sky News political correspondent who writes questions for University Challenge, with experience working in Congress.
6. Alok Sharma
Sir Alok Kumar Sharma KCMG is a British Conservative Party politician who served as President for COP26, having previously served as Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and Secretary of State for International Development
7. Ruth Davidson
Ruth become the youngest political leader in the UK when she was elected at 32 and the first openly gay leader of any major British party. Ruth has been named one of Time Magazine’s 100 people of influence and famously took on Boris Johnson and Nicola Sturgeon in stadium debates for the Brexit and Scottish independence referendums.
8. Amber Rudd
Amber Rudd served as Home Secretary, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and was a Conservative MP from 2010. Amber eventually stood down from parliament in 2019. Today she speaks on current affairs, global events, the climate change emergency and security issues. In 2020 she joined The Climate Group as a Trustee and acts as a Senior Advisor for Teneo a CEO advisory firm.
9. Andrea Leadsom
Andrea Leadsom is a British Conservative politician who served in the UK Government for over six years, including as Energy Minister, Leader of the House of Commons, and Business Secretary. She speaks about green growth, business and culture change.
10. Kim Darroch
Lord Kim Darroch is a retired UK civil servant and life peer in the House of Lords. An experienced executive with a background in policy analysis, government affairs, and public speaking. Lord Darroch is a regular and authoritative commentator and contributor across key media channels and published media
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