Embarrassingly, the Member for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath has been found to be Parliament’s top outside earner, in absentia. The Guardian reports, sympathetically:

“Gordon Brown earned more than £1.37m from giving speeches around the world. Brown said the income supported an office that he uses to “support my ongoing involvement in public life”, with £600,000 going to charity and none of the money to him personally.”

That line again.

Leaving aside that no evidence is offered up for these charitable donations, the cost of a few staffers and some flights around the world does not cover the other half million. Either it has been paid down to Gordon or Sarah somehow, or it’s all just sitting there in the “Office of Gordon and Sarah Brown” bank accounts, meaning Gordon’s direct income from speaking is not being taxed as direct income. It’s dishonest either way.

UPDATE: Always happy to help, Guido pointed out the Metro’s incorrect headline:

Wouldn’t want Gordon’s spin catching on…