Cartoon by Steve Bell

Just when you think we've learnt all there is to know about Tony Blair's lying, corruption and hypocrisy along comes another revelation to show what a bottomless pit it is.

In 2004, two weeks after Tony Blair had Libyan dissident Adul Hakim Belhaj kidnapped and sent for torture in Muammar Gaddafi's prisons, he shamelessly embraced the Libyan dictator in a tent in the desert.

A little later, lucrative deals were signed with British oil companies Shell and BP and weapons worth tens of millions of pounds were sold to the Gaddafi regime.

As soon as Blair stepped down as prime minister in June 2007, he was quick to profit personally from the connection.

He visited Libya several times, including on behalf of the American bank J.P. Morgan, which pays him a retainer of £1 million a year for a few days work a month.

Gaddafi's son Saif says Blair was a "personal family friend" who visited Libya "many, many times". Blair is reported to have used Gaddafi's private jet to make these visits.

No wonder Blair is now having difficulty "recollecting" rendering Adul Hakim Belhaj and the British secret services are trying to bribe Belhaj with £1 million as hush money.

As ever, cartoonist Steve Bell captures the horrendous venality of Tony Blair in all its glory.