Cherie Blair Joins Great and Good on Us Speaking Tour

Cherie Blair has joined a leading and expensive New York speakers' agency for a lecture tour in October, it was disclosed yesterday.

Speaking in her professional capacity as barrister Cherie Booth, the prime minister's wife has been signed up by the Harry Walker agency, whose clients include former presidents Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford.

The agency also represents the Irish pop legend, Bono, and the former UN weapons inspector Hans Blix, and it promotes Winston Churchill's grandson, a former Tory MP, as Winston S Churchill III. Fees for an appearance go from £25,000 to £160,000 for Bill Clinton.

A spokeswoman for Ms Booth's chambers, Matrix, said that she had offered to speak on "subjects that were within her professional expertise" as a lawyer and campaigner on human rights, employment law and parents' rights. Her speeches will attract attention, since she is known to have strong views on such issues as the war in Iraq or the fate of the Palestinians which could embarrass her husband.

Her entry on Matrix's website lists recent cases taken up on equal pay, parental leave, and an action by a convicted sex offender against a police authority. Commercial cases included fighting to release a seized ship.

Two years ago her comments at a charity event for medical aid for Palestinians caused a furore.

Speaking to reporters after appearing with Queen Rania of Jordan (another speaker on the Harry Walker agency list) she said in a reference to suicide bombers: "As long as young people feel they have got no hope but to blow themselves up, you are never going to make progress."

Downing Street later apologised after a protest by Israel. Since then, Tony Blair has been known to be unhappy at his wife making high-profile speeches; she had to turn down a speaking engagement with Human Rights Watch, because of the agency's strong stance on the Iraq war.

Yesterday's disclosure suggests that Mr Blair is now more relaxed. Though Downing Street declined to comment, Matrix suggested that it had approved Ms Booth's decision. The Harry Walker agency is promoting Ms Booth following the leaking of an email to potential clients which reads: "I have exciting news. Cherie Blair [sic], noted British attorney, human rights advocate, and the wife of prime minister Tony Blair, has agreed to speak under our auspices this fall for a limited number of engagements."

The email quotes Mr Blair as saying his wife "is an enormous source of strength and an extraordinary person in her own right. I never know how she manages with all the different things she does - the work, the family." The email offers three possible dates - October 26, 27 and 28 - with "value for money" guaranteed.

The email concludes: "I know Cherie Blair would be a great success at your next event, so please contact me today for more information about her lecture topics, October schedule and future scheduling opportunities."

Don Walker, president of the agency, was unavailable for comment yesterday.