Ex-prime minister Tony Blair is the UK candidate for president of the European Council, Europe Minister Baroness Kinnock has apparently confirmed.At a briefing for journalists in Strasbourg, Lady Kinnock said the UK was supporting Mr Blair for one of the most powerful posts in the EU. Asked if this had been discussed with Mr Blair, she said the government "would not do that without asking him". The post depends on Irish backing of the Lisbon Treaty in a referendum. But this is the first time a UK government minister has publicly announced Tony Blair is a candidate for the job.
Ex-prime minister Tony Blair is the UK candidate for president of the European Council, Europe Minister Baroness Kinnock has apparently confirmed.
At a briefing for journalists in Strasbourg, Lady Kinnock said the UK was supporting Mr Blair for one of the most powerful posts in the EU.
Asked if this had been discussed with Mr Blair, she said the government "would not do that without asking him".
The post depends on Irish backing of the Lisbon Treaty in a referendum.
But this is the first time a UK government minister has publicly announced Tony Blair is a candidate for the job.
Britain's new Europe minister says ex-prime minister's candidacy would have full backing of British governmentTony Blair is a contender to become the first president of the EU with the full backing of the British government, the new Europe minister said today.Glenys Kinnock, in Strasbourg for the opening session of the new European parliament, said that although the former prime minister had not formally declared his candidacy, it was "certainly" the government position to support him."I am sure they would not do it without asking him," Lady Kinnock said. "The UK government is supporting Tony Blair's candidature for president of the council."The new post is to be created under the Lisbon treaty, which will streamline the way the EU is run if it is endorsed in an Irish referendum in early October.
Tony Blair is a contender to become the first president of the EU with the full backing of the British government, the new Europe minister said today.
Glenys Kinnock, in Strasbourg for the opening session of the new European parliament, said that although the former prime minister had not formally declared his candidacy, it was "certainly" the government position to support him.
"I am sure they would not do it without asking him," Lady Kinnock said. "The UK government is supporting Tony Blair's candidature for president of the council."
The new post is to be created under the Lisbon treaty, which will streamline the way the EU is run if it is endorsed in an Irish referendum in early October.
Tony Blair was named for the first time as the Government's candidate for President of the European Council today. Confirming that Britain is pushing Mr Blair's case for a dramatic return to frontline politics, Baroness Kinnock, the Europe Minister, said that Mr Blair's "strength of character" made him the ideal person for the job created under the Lisbon Treaty. Mr Blair himself has avoided declaring his hand or openly campaigning ahead of the decision on the new high-profile post, which is expected to be made by heads of the EU governments at their summit in late October if the Lisbon Treaty passes a second referendum in Ireland on October 2. The former Prime Minister is currently working as a special envoy to the Middle East for the Quartet of the UN, US, EU and Russia.
Tony Blair was named for the first time as the Government's candidate for President of the European Council today.
Confirming that Britain is pushing Mr Blair's case for a dramatic return to frontline politics, Baroness Kinnock, the Europe Minister, said that Mr Blair's "strength of character" made him the ideal person for the job created under the Lisbon Treaty.
Mr Blair himself has avoided declaring his hand or openly campaigning ahead of the decision on the new high-profile post, which is expected to be made by heads of the EU governments at their summit in late October if the Lisbon Treaty passes a second referendum in Ireland on October 2.
The former Prime Minister is currently working as a special envoy to the Middle East for the Quartet of the UN, US, EU and Russia.
The basic question being: is this serious?
The Stop Blair petititon is getting a surge in signatures today, although there were no references in the news, so I guess it's due to its good search engine profile.
That is the number of people who have signed an online petition, run in recent weeks to protest against the idea that Blair would be a suitable person to preside over the affairs of the EU.
An online petition has already appeared called "Stop Blair", which explains which authorities would be appointed to the EU president and why Blair should not perform such duties.
Any noise that reminds the pundits that he is opposed vigorously will make a difference. I say we put the petition back on the front page and do a post about it. In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
