In 1992 Margaret Thatcher signed on as an international consultant to the Philip Morris tobacco company at a pay rate of US $500,000 annually, with half to be paid directly to Mrs. Thatcher and half to be paid to the Margaret Thatcher Foundation.[1].
According to the 19 July 1992 U.S. Sunday Times article, Ms. Thatcher’s “advice will be sought on controversial issues including the penetration of tobacco markets in Eastern Europe and the Third World. She will alsos be asked to help resist attempts to ban tobacco advertising in the European Community and to fight cigarette taxes and state-run tobacco monopolies.” Thatcher was a non-smoker who spoke out against tobacco several times while Prime Minister. [2]
The Independent (of London) reported that Philip Morris paid for a 70th birthday bash for Ms. Thatcher on 23 October 1995 in Washington, D.C. 800 guests attended and the estimated cost of the party was $1 million.[3]
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Margaret_Thatcher
http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/documentStore/k/n/s/kns71f00/Skns71f00.pdf+
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/27/obituaries/27THAT.html