The plotting and bungles that led to an obscure British bureaucrat heading the EU's foreign service were even greater than first thought. She now commands staff in 130 countries.

After a byzantine Brussels stitch-up, the appointment to one of the grandest jobs in the European Union was settled by text message. Early on Thursday evening Baroness Ashton, an obscure Labour quangocrat, received a text message from her mentor, Jose Manuel Barroso, the chairman of the European commission.

It told her she was to be the EU's first high representative for foreign affairs. The decision was such a shock that Ashton had been preparing to board the Eurostar to go home to London and had no acceptance speech prepared.

"Cathy [Ashton] was genuinely surprised," said one Brussels insider. So was the rest of the world, which had barely heard of her.

The moment encapsulated just how badly Gordon Brown had bungled his attempt to win EU posts for his favoured candidates. The prime minister had lobbied in vain for Lord Mandelson, the business secretary, and Geoff Hoon, the former chief whip, to be given the job. Ashton was effectively his third or even fourth choice.