Michael McGowan: We should be at the heart of Europe, but not with Tony Blair as President - Yorkshire Post

Tony Blair has been touting for the job for some time to add to his lucrative portfolio and has even been mentioned as favourite to get it.

However, Gordon Brown should make it clear that the choice of Tony Blair for President of Europe does not have his blessing.

The comment attributed to Glenys Kinnock, the new Europe Minister, speaking to journalists in Strasbourg in July that the British government is backing Tony Blair for the President of Europe appears to have been a mistake and it would be helpful for Brown to make clear that his predecessor does not have the support of the Government.

Blair would see the job as a high profile grandstanding position on the world stage with plenty of air miles. And his failure to show solidarity with Europe on Iraq should eliminate him from any serious consideration for President of Europe. He was out of step with European political and public opinion apart from his friend and holiday host,
Mr Berlusconi.

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