British taxpayers could face a multi-million-pound bill for Sir Tony Blair’s security if he oversees an interim government in Gaza.
The Mail on Sunday can reveal that plans for elite team of British bodyguards and special forces to protect the ex-Prime Minister have already been drawn up at the Ministry of Defence.
And sources say that could cost UK taxpayers millions of pounds if Sir Tony works regularly in the region and heads up the new temporary supervisory board for the full five years.
That could include regular flights for the former PM to and from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus if it was deemed too dangerous for him to be based in the Middle East itself.
It emerged last month that Donald Trump wanted Sir Tony to serve on a transitional ‘board of peace’ to oversee Gaza if Hamas accepted the US president’s proposed settlement to end the war with Israel.
But the move has sparked surprise, given the ex-PM’s decision to take Britain into the Iraq War in 2003 and his wider reputation in the Middle East.
Even Health Secretary Wes Streeting has admitted the choice ‘will raise some eyebrows’.
It was unclear yesterday if Sir Tony would work in or near Gaza itself although critics yesterday insisted that any ‘remote control’ authority would not work.
The Mail on Sunday can reveal that plans for elite team of British bodyguards and special forces to protect Tony Blair have already been drawn up at the Ministry of Defence
Much of Gaza has been reduced to rubble over the last two years. Pictured: Smoke rises following explosions in Gaza City on October 4, 2025
Leading Palestinian figure Nasser al-Qudwa, nephew of Yasser Arafat, told The Times that to govern Gaza ‘you must be there – because you cannot just govern the place by remote control’.
However, last night, it emerged that contingency plans had already been drawn up to add to the protection Sir Tony will already have as a high-profile ex-PM if he does operate in and from the region.
A senior military source said that would include a Royal Military Police close protection team and a small Special Forces unit for so-called ‘atmospherics’ – potential threats on the street or the wider vicinity of any visit by a senior politician or VIP.
There would also likely be RAF air transport and armoured vehicle protection provided for Sir Tony.
One expert predicted last night that Sir Tony would need an overall protection team of up to 25 people which could cost taxpayers and could cost ‘millions of pounds’ if Sir Tony served for the full five-year period envisaged in the proposed peace plan.
The senior military source said: ‘The situation is very fluid, but Mr Blair is not the most popular man in the Middle East.
‘And if he is elevated to interim governor of Gaza, there will be a security concern and we are told it will be a UK responsibility.’
It emerged last month that Donald Trump wanted Sir Tony to serve on a transitional ‘board of peace’ to oversee Gaza if Hamas accepted the US president’s proposed settlement to end the war with Israel
He added: ‘He already has a close security team but moving around Gaza will present much bigger challenges and that will require people with him all the time and another team watching him and the team for problems.’
The source said that some of these capabilities could be offered by the United Nations but that ‘most UK politicians prefer to be looked after by UK forces.’
Sources at Sir Tony Blair’s office dismissed the threat of UK taxpayers picking up the bill for enhanced security as ‘rubbish’ last night.
The MoD said: ‘This is pure speculation. All former Prime Ministers already have security protection in place.
‘Any protective security system utilised by the UK Government is rigorous and proportionate.’
