Tony Blair was left looking like the big loser last night despite never having formally applied for the job of European president. As the EU's 27 leaders picked two virtual unknowns for its top jobs, the man everyone said would "stop the traffic" in Washington, Beijing or even Brussels was left back in London wondering what might have been. Gordon Brown called Mr Blair shortly before the summit got under way to explain that he had had one final try in front of the European socialist leaders, whom he had told three weeks ago to "get real" and choose his predecessor as their nominee for the top post. In fact, both men knew that it was almost certainly all over before Mr Brown left for Brussels yesterday.
Tony Blair was left looking like the big loser last night despite never having formally applied for the job of European president.
As the EU's 27 leaders picked two virtual unknowns for its top jobs, the man everyone said would "stop the traffic" in Washington, Beijing or even Brussels was left back in London wondering what might have been.
Gordon Brown called Mr Blair shortly before the summit got under way to explain that he had had one final try in front of the European socialist leaders, whom he had told three weeks ago to "get real" and choose his predecessor as their nominee for the top post.
In fact, both men knew that it was almost certainly all over before Mr Brown left for Brussels yesterday.
The day before, Fredrik Reinfeldt, the Swedish Prime Minister, charged with getting agreement on Europe's top three jobs, had finally, and almost unnoticed, published the job description for the post of president. Britain always wanted the job to be a presidential one and, as The Times revealed at the end of last month, Mr Blair had decided that he would enter the race only if the role were substantial. Mr Reinfeldt ruled, after weeks of consultation, that the holder should be a chairman of European Council meetings rather than a big figure to represent the EU on the world stage.
The day before, Fredrik Reinfeldt, the Swedish Prime Minister, charged with getting agreement on Europe's top three jobs, had finally, and almost unnoticed, published the job description for the post of president. Britain always wanted the job to be a presidential one and, as The Times revealed at the end of last month, Mr Blair had decided that he would enter the race only if the role were substantial.
Mr Reinfeldt ruled, after weeks of consultation, that the holder should be a chairman of European Council meetings rather than a big figure to represent the EU on the world stage.
As if the Lisbon Treaty didn't say that already...
Mr Blair could easily have pulled out on Wednesday, but he and Mr Brown decided that he should hold on one more day in case a deadlock at last night's summit had unexpectedly propelled him back into the running. But yesterday was the day that his past caught up with him. His alliance with George Bush in the prosecution of the Iraq war was deeply unpopular with most EU countries. But according to diplomats, Mr Blair was always facing an uphill struggle as he was not popular with the Socialist leaders. As Prime Minister, they said, he was never a regular attender at the pre-summit Socialist Group gatherings, was thought to get on badly with José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, the Spanish Prime Minister, and often seen as too close to centre-right leaders.
But yesterday was the day that his past caught up with him. His alliance with George Bush in the prosecution of the Iraq war was deeply unpopular with most EU countries.
But according to diplomats, Mr Blair was always facing an uphill struggle as he was not popular with the Socialist leaders. As Prime Minister, they said, he was never a regular attender at the pre-summit Socialist Group gatherings, was thought to get on badly with José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, the Spanish Prime Minister, and often seen as too close to centre-right leaders.
So, dear British media including Times, what is your excuse for channelling the Bliarites' spin about the exact opposite? *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
