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Irish voters decide fate of Tony Blair's EU Presidency
Paul Waugh, Deputy Political Editor2 Oct 2009
Both Labour and the Tories were on tenterhooks today as Ireland went to the polls in a crunch referendum on the European Union's future.
Ministers were hoping for a “Yes” vote for the Lisbon Treaty because it would pave the way for Tony Blair to become President of the 27-nation bloc.
But there were fears among Tories that Irish approval would give David Cameron a political headache ahead of his party conference this weekend.
The Tory leader has given a “cast-iron guarantee” to The Sun that he would hold a British referendum on the treaty if he became Prime Minister.
Critics say that to do so once every other country has ratified the blueprint would mean tearing up the UK's membership of the EU. Shadow cabinet minister Greg Clark today appeared to water down Mr Cameron's pledge. He said it was “shabby” that Labour had not given Britons a vote, but cast doubt on whether the Tories would allow a referendum.
“The issue we have is whether this treaty will be ratified. I think the British people do want to have a say on it,” he told BBC2's Daily Politics show. “If it's not ratified by the time of the election, David Cameron has made the exact point that we would do it.”
Mr Cameron won the support of The Sun this week but would cause the paper huge embarrassment if he reneged. He told its readers in 2007: “I will give this cast-iron guarantee: If I become PM a Conservative government will hold a referendum on any EU treaty that emerges from these negotiations.”
If the Irish approve the treaty, leading EU nations such as Britain, France and Germany are set to push for swift ratification across Europe. Only the signatures of the Polish and Czech presidents are missing.
Ratification would mean Mr Blair could be installed as President within weeks. But former foreign secretary Margaret Beckett said: “I'm sure he would be a strong candidate, [but] I somewhat doubt whether he would actually get the post.”
Government sources said French president Nicolas Sarkozy is backing Mr Blair and there are claims that German chancellor Angela Merkel may be persuaded if Berlin got a plum post in the new European Commission.
Irish opinion polls indicate a Yes vote, but the campaign is narrowing. A result is expected tomorrow, the eve of the Tory conference in Manchester.
Reader views (52)
Europhile, london, uk - obviously such arrogance as you display in your posts shows that you are well suited to a system that does not require democratic approval of citizens.
"This is too important an issue for the ill-informed and barmy electorate to vote on. Best just leave it to your betters and stick to pap gutter press and junk reality TV diets."
One of two possibilities here - you actually mean what you say here and think that anyone who disagrees with your view shouldn't have a say in the matter (can we say "dictatorship" or "tyranny"), or less likely given the tone of your responses elsewhere, you are using opposites to highlight the absurdity of such a stance.
Hint: there is democracy (as in, everyone has a say) or there is not. Democracy has its faults - no question of that, but it's ultimately the best of a bad lot! Tough luck if you don't like it. (Although I reckon you'd hail it as "a victory for common sense" if voters approved it - good old democracy in action then, eh?!)
- Rogan, Irving, 02/10/2009 16:44
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This is the end of democracy when a bare face crooked liar is appoineted president on cronyism instead of a democratic vote by the people. This is why Blair refused us the vote on the EU constitution aka Lisbon Treaty
- T.Nicholson, Bedale, UK, 02/10/2009 16:26
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I have been vacillating between the conservatives and lib-dems BUT if Blair does become President(ego) of Europe it will be UKIP 4me!
- Roy, Billericay Essex, 02/10/2009 15:45
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I only hope that the good people of ireland vote no, if only just to keep SAINT BLAIR away from any important political post that can affect our way of life, the man is a joke, if the people of britain had a chance to vote i think they would hang him, sorry if i offend any die-hard tony(brainwashed) fans
- Chris-Cross, loughton,england, 02/10/2009 15:16
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Thank goodness I left the UK 30 years ago. It is the cesspool of Europe. Mr. Blair led the UK into the dingiest dump it is today. If allowed, he will do that to the whole of Europe as well. I just hope and pray (even though I am an athiest) that Ireland will say NO. Blair is a dirty schemer and a very dangerous man. He should not be allowed to remain in politics. Let him be an Estate Agent instead.
- Wq Ex Pat, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, 02/10/2009 15:08
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The word here in France is that Sarkozy and Merkel will only back Blair if the UK adopts the Euro so it looks like we may be saying goodbye to the pound some time very soon.
- Susie, Paris, France, 02/10/2009 15:01
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Please, our Irish cousins, say yes to Irish culture, rule and autonomy! Say no to the EU bullies!
- Maria, London, 02/10/2009 14:41
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If the Irish are bullied into voting Yes as many predict, it will at least show the British public what a racket the EU is.
David Cameron might actually be very popular if he offered to replace membership with a trade agreement. We are guaranteed pretty comprehensive free trade with them through the WTO and would escape such niceties as Blair as President and paying for corruption and fraud in Brussels.
The EU treaties are also bent in that they don't allow us to take back powers nationally, and enable the EU to fine us unlimited sums if we don't obey it.
Our imaginary 'influence' in the EU is about 9% of the votes on most things. If Mr Cameron doesn't want to be the next poodle of Europe, he should mention the unmentionable - life after EU - and damn the few Tory dinosaurs who kowtow to Brussels.
- Jools, London, 02/10/2009 14:33
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Is there something in the small print of the EU Rules that prevents sitting EU Presidents from being tried in Court at The Hague for War Crimes whilst in office?
- Fraser, Telford Park, 02/10/2009 14:28
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This is a treaty that Britain, notwithstanding the chattering classes, clearly does not want. The Brussels establishment is hellbent on railroading this through before the UK has a chance to torpedo the monstrous document.
Cameron should come of the fence and state unequivocally that there will be a referendum in the event of a Conservative election victory.
If Ireland votes yes, Dave may need some encouragement. I shall write to my Conservative candidate demanding such an assurance. If the undertaking is not forthcoming, I shall vote for UKIP. A significant number of such letters from voters in marginal constituencies could well swing it.
It's time to stop this subversion of our democracy.
- John C, Leatherhead, UK, 02/10/2009 14:13
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Only the Irish could reject something in a referrendum and then be asked exactly the same question again and vote yes! No wonder the EU target them for a second referrendum!
- James Baker, Bromley, 02/10/2009 14:03
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What you have to remember is the Labour Party under Blair in 2005 were ONLY elected on the understanding that a referendum would be given to the British people on the Lisbon Treaty. For Brown to renege on that promise is reprehensible and is just one of the reasons that he will never win a general election. AS much as you hate Cameron and Boris Johnson they are at present acting in an honest manner. You're pro Nulabour postings need some balance
- Noah More, London, 02/10/2009 13:48
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The people of this country really need to wake up.
The Lisbon Constitutional Treaty will be the end of our right to self determination, and it is highly likely that the Irish will be bullied and bribed into a yes vote.
Lisbon contains all of the elements of the EU Constitution, and more. It is a self amending treaty that will remove the need for any more EU treaties, and consequently referenda, because it can simply be modified as the unelected EU Commission chooses.
WE, the people of EUrope, will never have another say in anything that the EU political elites decide to impose upon us. It has already started; did you, or anyone you know, vote for Billy Liar to be EU President? No, of course you didn't. He's not even an MEP!
The oppressed peoples of the Soviet Union struggled for 70 years to free themselves from socialist tyranny, and we are heading in the same direction.
Start making noises folks, the end of British democracy is just around the corner, supported with gusto by the Tories, soon to be irrelevant NuLiebour, the LibDems and the EcoStasi.
Billy Liar as President of the EU is an even greater affront to democracy and freedom than the presence of his close friend, Lord Mandlieson of Mendacity, in the (anti)British government.
- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster, 02/10/2009 13:42
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Bliar is known to be extremely popular in Ireland, and no doubt will vote for him.
- Ram2009, Reading, UK, 02/10/2009 13:36
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We're in for some stick.
Blair hated England when he was PM of it.
Imagine how much he'll hate it under Tory rule.
Maybe this is why Europeans find him such an attractive canditate.
As we say up here in the North "We're on a hiding to nowt"
- Dr Alan Smithson, Durham City, England, 02/10/2009 13:31
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The German Chancellor must surely know how Blair operates. A Blair presidency may well turn out to be against Germany's long-term interests.
And it's not only Blair; it's the whole package he will bring to the post.
A German President of the European Council would be much better for Europe. Or Mr Felipe Gonzalez
- Horace, London, UK, 02/10/2009 13:31
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If the Irish vote yes to Lisbon, I do hope that all Irish Euro notes will be printed with Tony Blair's face on them, so that they can gaze upon the face of their new dear leader as they queue up at the check-out.
- Johnse18, Lewisham, 02/10/2009 13:26
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@ Europhile, london, uk
Seems this ignorance thing is common place.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 02/10/2009 13:25
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Let’s all be honest. Anyone expecting the EU to act in a democratic way will be disappointed; it has not and has never had any intention of allowing democracy to show its head.
The Lisbon Treaty became the law from the moment it was invented. Yes, in some States of this new Socialist Empire the people can vote no. However, they will, by order of the Politburo have to keep voting until they say yes.
Europe is not a free society, its People do not lend the authorities powers. All powers remain at all times with the Political Elite who remain the supreme rulers, only if they give approval are certain rights allowed to trickle down to the People.
- Ian, Reading, England, 02/10/2009 13:18
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All aboard the EU gravy train, tickets please!
This is comical.
Do they not take into account his abject failure as Middle East peace envoy? His WMD decision? The levels of borrowing in the UK when he left?
Unbelievable.
- St, London, 02/10/2009 13:12
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seriousy hope the Iish will vote NO!! NOT just to stop Tony Blair and his greedy ambitions but also to rid Dublin of this disgraceful past years of Tigernomics
which has led them into quicksand !
and with the Church suggesting a No Vote, lets hope divine intervention will rule ! NO
- David Thompson, London, 02/10/2009 13:11
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What makes you think the tory boys are going to take us out of the EU? call me Dave has not mentioned it and when asked keeps quite, also say's nothing on the tory stand on immigration funny that the two most important topics in Britain today.
- Steve, England, 02/10/2009 13:00
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And don't count on this grotesquely undemocratic EU power grab stopping at Blair's appointment.
Won't be long before he recruits his own ex-ZaNuLabour Republican 'inner sanctum' henchmen 'disciples', like First Lady of Europe [Sweet Darling Cherie] Booth, Dark Lord Meddlesum, The Milliband Boys, Straw, The Kinnock Clan Red-Dynasty[again], and, wait for it, European Chancellor Brown!
Even more sinisterly, if that's possible, a 'fully ratified' EU could permanently 'arrange' to block Westminster/Cameron from holding any future referenda, before our next UK Government 'take power' next June!
Put that in your Franco-Bavarian pipe, and smoke it, all you Blair subjects!
But not in a public area!
- Dave, Cumbria, 02/10/2009 12:53
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Regarding the comment about Norway, Norway is rich principally because. at the root of it all is its enormous oil and gas reserves, which are enjoyed by a very small population.
- Kl, Dublin, 02/10/2009 12:50
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Norway did the right thing. Years ago I'd already come to the conclusion that Blair's sole aim was to become Present of Europe. Seems I was correct. We are the only country in the EU that actually sticks to all the laws that now govern us, no-one else bothers. The UK, the year is 2050. We have now been designated as the states penatenchery for Europe! You mark my words, this country has turned into the toilet of Europe. Thank God I'll be dead by then.
- Sue, Orpington, Kent, 02/10/2009 12:39
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I don't know who the Brussels insiders are who tell you that Czech Republic will ratify Lisbon before October 29th.
A challenge to the Lisbon treaty was handed in to the
Czech constitutional court in Brno on Tuesday. The court
will start considering it sometime this month. If the
Irish vote yes, it seems unlikely that the Czech president Vaclav Klaus will ratify it by October 29th! Although there will be a lot of vituperative rage ( especially from the little guy, Sarkozy), the whole
process in Czech Republic might take some months.
Just in time for Cameron to be elected!One can always hope.
The thought of Blair as European President is enough to
make most decent people race out to the loo to be sick.
- John, Brno, Czech Republic, 02/10/2009 12:37
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Please,please, please Irish people vote NO on this...don't back down now just because you're being told to do so....come on...stick with your gut feelings and it will all work out better for you.
- Sarah, London, 02/10/2009 12:35
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What David Cameron has said is that if the Lisbon Treaty is not ratified, which can only be if Ireland votes "no", he will hold a referendum if elected to power.It will be ratified, I am sure. The Irish have been frightened into saying "Yes".
Very clever or duplicitous of Cameron depending on your view. If Ireland says "Yes", it's over and he has fulfilled his promise because by then it's too late .If Ireland says - however unlikely - "no", he can fairly safely call for a referendum knowing there is a significant number of people in this country who are likely to oppose the Treaty. Again he would have fulfilled his promise.
The Irish seem to have 3 issue of concern. 1. Neutrality. 2. Abortion. 3. Their influence through a Commissioner. As to 2 and 3, they've been given reassurances by the EU - okay. I think where they are not focussing is nuetrality. Once the voting becomes majority as opposed to unanimous, what happens when the ED Force comes about and they are asked to provide soldiers to fight wars or go into hostile environments? They have been duped, I think.
As for Blair, let europe find out about him in the same way we have. If Kinnock can be a Commissioner, anything is possible.
- Captain Black Of The Mysterons, London, England, 02/10/2009 12:29
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The Kinnock family have got rich out of the trough, that is the EU,so we shouldn't be surprised that Blair's name has cropped up in the same context.Unelected to fill a post created by EU mandarins,to centralise power away from sovereign states.The juggernaut, that the EU is, does not take no for an answer,so little Ireland,has no possibility of changing decisions that have already been made behind closed doors.They have been bought and paid for.The same would not have been said about the UK and that is why we were not allowed a referendum.Perhaps I am also alittle paranoid in thinking that Blair is only being considered for this new post because the powers that be,believe he could persuade the UK to join the wonderful Euro(without a referendum)Maybe a bit to cynical?who knows
- Frank K, manchester, 02/10/2009 12:25
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Norway are not in the Eu and have done far better out that in... what is there to be worried about? Things could not get any worse!!
- James Deen, Southampton, 02/10/2009 12:07
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Well it looks like the Irish voters will see sense today and vote yes, allowing the Lisbon Treaty to come into force and avoiding an unnecessary, and damaging referendum here - if the franky barmy "little englander" posts on here are in any way reflective of voter opinion outside of the educated-metropolis. This is too important an issue for the ill-informed and barmy electorate to vote on. Best just leave it to your betters and stick to pap gutter press and junk reality TV diets.
- Europhile, london, uk, 02/10/2009 12:02
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I feel very depress and sick.
- K Lee, Herts, England, 02/10/2009 11:56
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If Tony Blair becomes President of the EU it will further ensure the success of the Conservatives at the UK general election when it comes.
Until then he will very much overshadow a dismal Gordon Brown.
- Jkr, Glasgow Scotland, 02/10/2009 11:54
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"Tony Blair, President of Europe"
Time for the UK to withdraw gracefully from the EU "grand projet" methinks. The prospect of a Tory government hamstrung by a grinning Blair should be enough to get Cameron bricking up the Channel Tunnel.
And doubtless Lord Mandy of Pandy will be toadying around the corridors of Brussels as well, once his former master is ensconced on the EU throne. All it will take is for Gormless Clown to be appointed to a financial position and the demonic triumvirate will be complete.
Who will rid us of this turbulent beast that is the European Union?
- Nobby Clark, Perth, the Scottish one, 02/10/2009 11:50
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Perhaps if David Cameron had not alienated his party from the French and Germans in the Centre right group, we would not be having this conversation. His decision to place himself at the edge of Europe with all the other fringe parties and eurosceptics will mean that we have no voice in the decision-making process. You have to be up there at the top table to make a difference. As for a referendum, forget it; Cameron has already said if the Irish vote yes, he will have to go back to the drawing board and there will be no point in holding a referendum on the Treaty because it will be a fait accompli. Don't want to say I told you so, but I did.
- Val Daniels, Mijas Costa, Spain, 02/10/2009 11:37
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No, No, N.
No Greedy Great British government or its agent deserves any top position anywhere else in the world. They do NOT allow others with potential, intellect and merit to get anywhere in their tiny Great Island UK and their 'Commonwealth' colonies either and just look at the huge MESS and CHAOS they have created with their Great New World Order psychotic psychiatric Governments of Power Abuses, Control and Weapons of Mass Desptruction that includes their thousands of mercenaries such as their evil 'doctors', psychiatrists, toxic medicated drugs experimentations, etc. maiming and murdering of billions of decent, innocent & vulnerable victims of their crimes of abuses of Human Rights and Mass Destruction of the earth too with their Greedy Corporations such as Anglo American Corporations, etcleaving behind their toxic wastes for us, while they become overtly enriched for their own Countries and themselves.
I am still awaiting my Compensations from them too!
- Claudine Fourie-Grosvenor, Geneva, Switzerland, 02/10/2009 11:27
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Incredibly, and perversely, after 100 years of their freedom fight from British rule, those Irish voting 'Yes, to Europe' must, afterall, really yearn to be nannied by yet more foreigners, and masochistically bossed by a Brit!
To coin an old Irish phrase, 'the bloody fools'.
- Dave, Cumbria, 02/10/2009 11:24
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We now have a government that will just not listen at all to the public and their oppinions. Tony Blair and Gordon Brown done a deal long ago when he stood down as Prime Minister that if Brown continued with the New Labour policies he could in turn become what he always wanted to be the Prime Minister. In exchange for selling the people of Britain down the river. This was a government who said we could have a referendum on the hated treaty, we still have to get this choice,instead now the people of Ireland having voted no the last time are now being bullied and conned yet again. When will this sleazy no hope government get the message. It will be too late to do anything to stop this before the election and Labour know it, If more power is given to Brussels now before the election there will be little any future goverment can do.The Irish vote is very important this time, I hope it's a resounding no, If it's Yes God help us all as we will have sleezy Blair selling us out again like he has done in the past and we will be overun with imigrants to steal our jobs. It wont be a very good future for us thanks to New Labour.
- David,, Keith, Scotland., 02/10/2009 11:17
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Let's face it fellow travellers the Irish have never really been able to stand on their own two feet ever since we lifted our jackboot from their backs. Following independence they ran around like headless chickens - headless in the sense that all their young went off to greener fields abroad as soon as they could- until Europe bailed them out. Now along comes the seemingly benificient Europe to bail them out again they will happily vote for it make no mistake. For them there really is no other choice but for us there definitely is. Question is: what do we do?
- Steve, Brentford, 02/10/2009 11:09
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The only party I have ever voted for in an election was The Referendum Party, with the simply policy that the British electorate was entitled to vote on the issue - either way. In the intervening period Labour has ruined the UK and I have experienced life in other countries both outside and withing the EU. I have watched with horror as the 'UK' (a name it has chosen to inflict on itself) has rapidly degraded whilst there has been a wholesale transfer of power from the individual to the State. Only a bunch of lefties and lawyers could tinker with individual rights so much. I have also seen many, many things blamed vaguely on 'European laws' which I don't see being implemented here: Britain employs 6 times more health and safety inspectors than France, and has turned the whole area of legislation into a seperate industry, whilst French people just deploy common sense. An absurdly unregulated insurance industry and the phantom of ambulance-chasing lawyers has in fact generated most of it in the UK. An overwhelming number of times the European Human Rights Act has been used to defend basic principles of law from Government attack. All these changes have brought me up sharp in my former views on Europe: I don't see any aspiration to World Domination on this side of the channel - just a moderate, well regulated country that has been invaded twice by fascist dictators and which is highly alarmed by the political changes in Britain. Be sure what you hear is accurate.
- Roz, France, 02/10/2009 11:06
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No to the Treaty! No to the imposition of the Treaty all over Europe! Yes to the referendum in all the European countries! Yes to the people deciding the fate of Europe!
- Joao Menezes, London, England, 02/10/2009 11:05
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Blair as the President of the EU. I suppose the next cock-up will be to award Brown an honorary doctorate in economics. No matter which way the vote goes, the brits have been well and truely screwed, by their own!
- Bill Dolan, New Zealand., 02/10/2009 11:04
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How can such a corrupt and self-serving man as Blair be give a job of that importance ? He hasn't even the "integrity" of Silvio Berlusconi.
- Sean, Coventry UK, 02/10/2009 11:03
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If the Irish say "yes", will they then be given the best of three? This is ridiculous and a waste of, no doubt, our, money. What part of "no" didn't they understand that last time? Am I missing something?
- Sonia M, St Albans, Herts, 02/10/2009 11:00
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This has made me realise just how important it is that we're given a referendum on the EU.I really hope you're listening Mr Cameron otherwise i'll be voting for a party that does.
- Stephen, London, 02/10/2009 10:27
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If the Irish vote YES, in short order welcome to the new province of United Kingdom, the new Ohio in the United States of Europe. The U.K. even now is no longer a country; a country is a self-governing territory. The U.K. stopped being self-governing a number of years ago. 70% of all new U.K. laws now come in from the continent. Rioting against the poll tax, but hardly a whimper for a country becoming a province, and nationality changing from British to European. Hardly a whimper. Where's the rioting on this issue -- 1,000 times more important than the poll tax, since the right to self-govern determines if you can even implement something like a poll tax.
- Phil Jones, London UK, 02/10/2009 10:11
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@ Frederick, London: "We should take to the streets".
WHAT? The sheeple in the UK are far too occupied watching rubbish on television and talking piffle to bother about Bliar becoming President of the EU (with Meddleslime as his acting, deputy, assistant President).
- Reuben Camara, Morecambe Compound, EUSSR, 02/10/2009 10:11
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Why are the Irish getting another vote because they chose to vote "no" the first time around. Why don't the "Yes" countries get a vote just in case they have changed their minds?
- Lorraine, Oxford, 02/10/2009 10:05
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If France and Germany instal Tony Blair as their unelected president I shall consider it to be a declaration of war.
- Desperate Dan, Lincolns Inn Fields, UK, 02/10/2009 10:02
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The Irish owe us nothing. We are doomed.
- Jimbob, Kensington, 02/10/2009 10:02
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I wasn't sure how I felt about Ireland voting this time, but the idea that if they vote yes will help Blair in anyway has put me firmly with a no vote!
- Marie, London, 02/10/2009 09:54
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If the Irish sell themselves down the river we should take to the streets. No was that Blair can get this job.
- Frederick, London, 02/10/2009 09:46
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