Gordon Brown backs Tony Blair's bid to become next EU president

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Jim Murphy, the Foreign Office minister in charge of EU policy, said Mr Blair would be given every assistance needed to make a successful campaign.

Mr Murphy's enthusiastic expression of support is the strongest backing so far from the UK Government for a Blair candidacy.

Following French president Nicolas Sarkozy's public backing for a Blair candidacy in the autumn, Gordon Brown said that his predecessor would make "a great candidate for any significant international job".

But the Prime Minister has steered clear of specifically endorsing Mr Blair as the first holder of the new EU role when the Treaty comes into effect next year.

The Europe Minister's comments come in an interview with The Spectator, published today.

Asked if he would back Mr Blair for the EU job, Mr Murphy said: "If he did want to do the job, I think he would be great at it and I would be interested in helping him make it happen."

He added: "He's a big character with international recognition.

"I haven't spoken to him to know if he definitely wants it. The Prime Minister of Luxembourg fancies it."

Unconfirmed reports suggest that, before deciding whether to throw his hat into the ring, Mr Blair is waiting to see whether the holder of the new role will be a high-profile figure representing the EU around the world or simply the chair at European Council summits.

Bookmakers Ladbrokes today offered odds of 12-1 that he would be the first holder of the post.

Spokesman Nick Weinberg saying: "It's still early days and the nature of the job is yet to be finalised. Tony Blair is just one of a number of able candidates."

The proposal for a semi-permanent presidency of the European Council was agreed at Mr Blair's final EU summit as PM last June and is included in the Treaty which Mr Brown signed Britain up to in Lisbon in December.

The President will be chosen unanimously by the 27 EU heads of government and will serve a maximum of two two-and-a-half-year terms.

The new post will replace the current system where member states take turns in six-month presidencies.