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Tony Blair backed to be Europe's first president
15 Jul 2009Europe minister Glenys Kinnock today reinforced speculation that Tony Blair wants to be Europe's first president.
She said the entire Government fully supported Mr Blair's "candidature" although the former prime minister has refused to confirm that he is bidding for the post.
There is no official list of contenders for a new Euro-job which will only exist if the Lisbon treaty is fully approved and ratified by all EU countries.
But Mrs Kinnock, visiting the European Parliament in Strasbourg, made clear the Government would be pushing him as the man to run Europe for up to five years under new treaty arrangements.
"The UK Government is supporting Tony Blair's candidature for president of the Council (of EU governments)," she told a press conference.
Asked if the prospect of being Europe's president had been discussed with Mr Blair, she said: "It is the Government's position. I am sure they would not do that without asking him".
Speculation has been mounting for years that Mr Blair would be the obvious choice to represent the EU under the new arrangements. The post - with an undefined remit but with a mission to be the global face of the EU - would run for two and a half years and be renewable once.
That would give Mr Blair a possible five-year term to help shape the EU, chairing summits of EU leaders and setting the agenda in all key policy areas.
Mr Blair has kept away from the debate about his future, aware that bidding too soon could scupper any chances of getting the necessary consensus amongst EU leaders.
There would also be attacks from eurosceptics if there were official discussions about a job based on the assumption the controversial Lisbon treaty will come into force.
In any case, no formal announcement of a candidacy would be made until after the Irish referendum on the treaty in the autumn - and only if the voters say "yes".
Mrs Kinnock said Mr Blair would be a good choice because he was perceived by many as having the right qualities.
She said: "He is someone with strength of character, status, people know who he is, and he could step into this new role with a lot of respect and he would be generally welcomed."
Reader views (19)
For Graham Rodhouse. You are right. The Conservatives took the UK into the COMMON MARKET not to the REPUBLIC OF THE EUROPEAN UNION. Blair's appointment will take him to the level of Chaves in Venezuela, Castro in Cuba,Morales in Bolivia, Ortega in Nicaragua, Zelaya in Honduras etc etc.
- Peter Glazier, Sao Paulo, 16/07/2009 07:51
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This man is a liar - the idiots in the European Union probably are electing him so they can carry on with their expense claims.
- Jk, London, 16/07/2009 06:51
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the Kinnocks and blairs human pond life, give us a vote and lets end this european nightmare
- Gerry, Essex, 16/07/2009 06:51
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Three points arise from this idiotic situation.
1.Soldiers are dying in Afghanistan in the effort to give them democracy. Why is there no democratic election for the President of Europe?
2. If the Kinnocks support him , he can have nothing going for him. Enough said.
3. Given the population of Europe, is he really the best person for the job?
- Colin Macpherson, Gramat France, 16/07/2009 06:51
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He doesn't have the support of the British electorate and I cannot believe any other country would support this nasty piece of work to do the same damage to Europe as he has done to the UK and to Iraq. This man is dangerous. Brown owes him no favours - Bliar and his cronies caused Brown all sorts of problems when he first became PM (although some of the subsequent things are of his own making). Hopefully Blair will have to face the new Inquiry under oath and be found out to be the war criminal he is before any such European appointment can be considered.
Ordinarily I support the European Union but if the only way to prevent Bliar becoming president is not to get the Lisbon treaty signed then so be it.
- Andy, london, 16/07/2009 06:51
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What people don't realise is this was set in stone a long time ago, way before Blair decided to step down he is part of a slow moving chain of events designed to cement an Anglo-American alliance with europe towing the line under control of this alliance. If you have no idea about this research the name Bilderburg group and you will see that Europe has been splintered for too long and it is the will of this Alliance to bring the european community into line. Blair is the only face that everyone recognises as creditable for doing this because although he was not successful in preventing this countries underlying economic problems he presented a face to the Americans that could be trusted and a voice to europe that could be turned to for guidance, look under the icing and you will find more than cake, maybe sour milk that made the sponge in any i smell a double edged sword.
- Wilton, London, 16/07/2009 06:51
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Would anyone, I wonder, employ either of the Blairs or Kinnocks to run a Whelk stall?
- Ted, London, 16/07/2009 06:51
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If the EU wants to gain credibility, electing Blair as President is not the way to do it! Should it wish to retain the impression that the majority of citizens of Europe have of it, as a larger version of 'Fred Karnows Circus' I can think of no better candidate!
PS. As his record in office becomes clearer with the passing of time (Lies, deception etc.)surely there must be a less damaged politician in the EU dustbin?
- Kevin Sullivan, Roehampton, London., 16/07/2009 06:51
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Charming comment above from Frank, Home Counties...
Sorry to contradict Mrs Kinnock saying Mr Blair "was perceived by many as having the right qualities". Albeit his quality of international state-man, he has 2 major issues that might be a definite no-go: he was leader of a country that has not adopted the euro currency and with more op-out clause from the EU policy than any other member.
- Cyril Richert, London, 16/07/2009 06:51
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This is the ultimate reason if any were needed to pull out of this farce they call the EU.
He is a warmonger for a start, and then the list goes on.
- P Staker, London, 16/07/2009 06:51
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Sorry, Frank of Home Counties, it was the Tories who took the UK into the old Common Market, not Labour.
- Graham Rodhouse, Helmond, Netherlands, 16/07/2009 06:51
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Only President, Tony? Why not King? Or how about Emperor?
- Graham Rodhouse, Helmond, Netherlands, 16/07/2009 06:51
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Blair would have liked to have been President of the UK if he could have - that is why I will always be a Monarchist - can you imagine, President Blair or Brown, Heaven help us.
All Blair has done is take us into an unlawful war, caused the death of a scientist with a conscience, David Kelly, and left his cronie Gordon Brown to finish off this country.
Let's ensure that the Lisbon Treaty is not ratified.
- Dot Jones, Neath, South Wales, 16/07/2009 06:51
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Why would Tony Blair be President without being elected by the population of Europe ?
This stinks of Fascism to me from a Fascist controlled EEU body in Brussels or Strasburg.
- Joe, Swanley Kent, 16/07/2009 06:51
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And why will they not give us a vote on Europe?
- Gary, Brentwood, 16/07/2009 06:51
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Dont these awfull people ever go away?
The Kinnocks?
They have robbed working people for years.
Look at what New Labour have brought us after 10 years.
They have been a complete failure.
I want term limits for all politicians in the UK.
Enough of these awfull people like the Kinnocks and the Blairs.
They are disgusting and complete failures
- Podonnell, Leeds, 16/07/2009 06:51
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Don't be too sure, the government may not be able to see through this blood soaked little moron but you can bet most of Europe can.
- Steve, Brentford, 16/07/2009 06:51
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How the British people can just stand by as their country with all of its rich heritage is turned into a province of a bigger country, beggars belief. There was rioting in the streets just two decades ago in response to Mrs Thatcher's poll tax, but when an issue 1,000 times more important (namely, the very power of the government to even impose a future poll tax or similar legislation) is involved, just lax acceptance. We seem to have decided just to go 'quietly into the night' as far as accepting that British nationality will be exchanged for European nationality and that the U.K. will be the equivalent of Florida or Ohio. Where's the rioting now, when the U.K. is only months away from moving from country to province?
- Phil Jones, London UK, 16/07/2009 06:51
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That is why this filthy traitor signed away all power to Brussels in his final act in power. Labour vermin have destroyed this country.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 16/07/2009 06:51
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