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Gordon Brown pitched wholeheartedly into a campaign to promote Tony Blair's bid to be EU president today.
The Prime Minister was making "a forceful case" for his predecessor based on Mr Blair's track record of securing big European agreements. Mr Brown was also hailing in private talks what an official called Mr Blair's experience at working across the political divide in a constructive way and his track record of being "a hard-headed champion of Europe".
Mr Brown travelled to the Brussels summit where he began his campaign at a lunch with European socialist leaders. But hours before his arrival, one of them, Germany's veteran Left-winger, Martin Schulz, declared that Mr Blair's war record should rule him out.
In another blow to Mr Blair, Spain's prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero was reported to have rejected Mr Blair and be backing Dutch prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende. At home, his old New Labour ally Charles Clarke said Mr Blair was wrong for the job and would spark divisions between London and Brussels.
Officially Mr Blair denies he is yet a candidate. But what looked like a campaign launch appeared on the front page of The Times today under the headline: "I'm your man".
His role in securing agreement on the enlargement of the EU to new members like Poland and Romania are among achievements being cited by Mr Brown.
Mr Schulz's opposition is no surprise - he is an old critic - and he has no vote, being only an MEP group leader.
But speaking ahead of today's lunch, he said: "I am of the opinion the holder of the office must come from a country which embraces all the political institutions of the union, such as the Schengen agreement or the euro. Britain does not meet those criteria."
Everyone was looking for the views of Germany's Angela Merkel and French president Nicolas Sarkozy who dined privately last night. Their decision could make or break Mr Blair's campaign.
Mr Clarke, the former home secretary, said Mr Brown should focus on repairing damaged relations with the EU. "Blair's Presidency of the EU would make this more difficult to achieve," he said. "His presence would encourage the rerunning of past battles rather than enabling a new approach to be fashioned."
The warning carried extra weight because it is from one of Mr Blair's longest-standing friends and followers.
Reader views (74)
Bliar is nothing but a poser and this deluded McDoom of a PM is seriously backing him to be EL PRESIDENTE.
Must be the joke of the century,but in any case the EUSSR will fail.
America is a collection of states within the same country barring odd states,essentially they speak the same language and abide by a code of ammendments.
The EUSSR on the other hand are a collection of once independant countries with their own traditions,culture and values who have been led like lemmings to the formation of a superstate.
These countries dont even speak the same language they sit there with earphones clamped churning out directives(sorry diktats)with most of them absolutely beyond the pale eg: straight bannanas,throw perfectly edible dead fish back into the sea to name but two.
Global warming sorry its changed now (climate change)this is another of their hobby horses purely designed to cash in on green taxes.For those with an interest think about this co2 levels represent 0.o39% of the earths atmosphere and we are proposing to reduce this by 40% by the year 2030 thats 40% of 0.039% work out the noughts I cant be bothered too many of them what a conn job.
The EUSSR will fail in their marxist ideology of world order how many times has it been tried in the past and failed.
Finally can anybody tell me how a EUSSR state can elect a president without all the peoples of that state not having a vote whatsoever.This surely is dictatorship on a grand scale.
- Roy.C, wigan.england.
If ever there was a time to exit Europe it will be when this gurning idiot gets the job. He does not deserve to be appointed to this position, and he's done nothing in the Middle East as 'peace envoy', so why should we have to pay vast sums of money for him to 'preside' over us?
- Richard, Surrey
As a passing note to what I said earlier, we can only that the power politicians in europe, of which mr gordon brown is not one,block his attempt to become president.We can all be very pleased ,very soon ,that the despicable,disgusting,reprehensible,corrupt,non intellectual,and totally moronic era of labour is over.Hopefully for many generations.I wish our new conservative prime minister my best wishes for the enormity of the task he will face.We as uk citizens can only hope that labour is totally obliterated in its present form.This would then give them the opportunity to reform and become a peoples party again.Bye bye mr blair,bye bye mr brown.Its all over very soon...................
- Bernard Michaelis, london england and sparneck germany
In any normal society or world Brown's backing blair would be the kiss of death for Blair. But you know what? Blair will be come President of the EU. We have been softened up for months now to expect it so wen it comes it will be no big shock. Just like the beginnings of the invasion of Iraq. Blair softened everyone first so when the invasion happened we were all resigned to it. If Blair had said from the outset that the aim was regime change it wouldn't have worked. And in this instance it is so apparent that Brown and Milliband are paving the way for their own incursion onto the gravy train when they are rejected by the electorate at the next election.
- Cyrjames, Berwick UK
Cannot do better than quote William Rees Mogg on Blair a few weeks ago; "Whatever happens to the rest of the passengers, Tony Blair will always be first in the lifeboat when the ship starts to sink". A perfect image to sum up Blair's career.
- Stephen, oxford
Britain is now a dictatorship. No matter what they called the accursed Constitution, a Treaty or a Con it is still the Constitution. Therefore lying & calling it a Treaty when it’s the constitution in order to prevent a Referendum means that we the British people have been effectively muzzled by this liar. He is one man how can he do this?
To have denied this nation a Referendum that was twice promised within minutes at the despatch box by his boss Tony Blair prior to the last election is not only wrong but is wholly unacceptable. Blair confirmed at the despatch box that even if every EU member state turned down the Constitution down we would get one. It is the most important decision of this age, whether we should go against history & submerge ourselves into a foreign culture that is dominated by 80% Catholics & states that have no Democratic traditions. Clearly that is why Blair converted to Catholicism.
The whole EU edifice has been assembled by means of lies, deceit & corruption on a galactic scale. 95% of the budget is missing according to EU Auditors.
There is a rumour that these men get ten million after leaving office for each agreement signed. Blair signed three. Recently he was reported to be worth thirty million?
We should be concerned at the moral collapse of Britain & its industries plus the dismantling of our protestant traditions. We want this man & his complicit party out & our country back.
- Jas, Farnborough UK
OK Brown, carry on supporting Blair. Your coffin only needs another few more nails, and they might as well come from you. Time you did something for THIS country, and this will help ensure (as if help were needed) your total defeat at the election which you can't put off for much longer.
- Pee'D Off Pensioner, London/UK
This is the famous "EU democracy" in action. Brown is clearly oblivious or indifferent to the views of the country he nominally represents. It's a European Commissioner's job to a cent that given the choice, the majority of voters in the UK would only elect Blair on a one-way ticket to hell.
He's none to popular in Germany either, the reality of which seems to be finally dawning on Berlin's leading politicians.
It certainly makes a mockery of all those platitudes about "adressing the democratic deficit" and "reconnecting with the voters".
If Cameron were to develop a spine, he could put a stop to it in an instant by stating that any government he headed would put the Lisbon Treaty to a referendum, in force or not.
Time we got rid of them all.
- John C, Leatherhead, UK
Val Daniels, Mijas Costa, Spain
say what you like , and get your facts from where you like , but in the court of public opinion , how can you be a peace envoy for a part of the world where you are undoubtedly responsible for hundreds of thousands of peoples funerals and last will and testament being read out ? and if you can not understand that , then hundreds of thousands of iraqis would still be kissing their wifes on the way to work every morning , but sadly arent because tony blair decided he would have military personnel explode things at them .
- Clive, london
5 British people who would make a better candidate for EU president (spit) than Tony Blair:
1. Michael Winner
2. Simon Cowell
3. Keeley off Page 3
4. Dizzee Rascal
5. The "sinner or winner" bloke on Oxford Street
- Kevin T, Beckenham, Kent
So it takes one man who was not elected to office by the public to elect another.......... ?
- E. Nuff, London
"We should accept the fact that Europe's leaders all adore him"
You haven't been reading the news lately, have you? It's those blinkers you use - they are designed to block out reality I know, but they stop you from seeing other things happening in the sidelines too.
- Rogan, Irving
Many did hope that when the three evil Bs: Busch, Blair and Berlusconi were gone, the world would be a better place. Now one, Belusconi, is back. God forbid that also Blair will cone back. The world had enough av war and hatred.
- Sbsb, London
I have read online many stories on Blair and the EU presidency in recent days many of which have attracted hundreds of comments, almost all of them hostile to the idea. Yet despite this clear public revulsion at the idea, David Milband, Denis McShane, Chris Bryant et al, and now Gordon Brown, arrogantly insist on trying to foist Blair on the EU xpressing a disingenous puzzlement that this idea should appal so many, and accusing critics of being upatriotic. The spiteful last move. I was thinking of remaining loyal to Labour in the next general election becuae I was unable to stomach the thought of another Tory regime, but this has done it for me and I definitely will not vote for Labour at the next election.
- Susie, London,UK
Blair was the worst PM the country ever had and he does'nt need the money.
- Anthony Powell, cardiff wlaes
Fake PM Brown backs Blair for unelected presidency, while our troops die in Afghanistan for a sham democracy. And they wonder why politicians aren't liked?
- Philip, London, England
"Track record of securing big European agreements" such as giving billions away on the rebate for NIL result?
- John Roper, London
Will this be the Eu's thank you to Tony for not allowing the UK a vote on Europe !
- Shallotman, Basildon
Liars dont come much bigger than Blair,what has he ever done for anybody?,lining his own pocket is the only thing that he excels in.
- Paul Kew, Bent Kent in Broken Britain
you wash my face, I will wash yours!Blair stands,for power,greed,lying, and above all MONEY with the support of his greedy wife.Brown obviously wants that job as well....
- Doukani, herts
Stop Blair before it is too late. Hopefully Blair has gone and Brown will follow him shortly.
- H O'Dell, Hertford, UK
NO NO NO Blair should NOT become president of the EU. He has sold the UK down the river for his own gratification and that of his wifes. Why else did he have the whole of the human rights installed in British law so that his wife could get rich look at her chambers the first to be formed in 2000 Blair also persuaded the other EUleaders that they wanted a president and he gave our rebate up to them sin return for the Presendcy so what else has he promised them. Blair is not that bright with his pregnant pauses and trying to speak posh and the quivering lif has everyone forgotten the actor Blair. Making promises and yet having no intention of keeping them. What we want is a referendum either yes or no also I would not mind as one commenter as put to belong to the US rather than Europe. The EU does not like us and remember what they have failed to do in two world wards they are doing by political means everything as far as the EU is concerned is loaded against the UK
- Jacqui Williams, peterborough cambs
Do we need any more evidence to conclude that Brown is Mandelson's poodle??
- Bingham Macnamara, lymington, hampshire
Everytime "Jonah" Brown supports anyone from an athlete to a political ally, the "curse" of Brown takes hold and abject failure follows. Similarly, he was predicting the economic recovery of the UK only weeks ago.
Rest assured that if Jonah and MilliBland are backing Blair - he is doomed. Hopefully. For all our sakes.
- Ricky, Hackney, London
Blair has had his chance as PM and failed. Just look at the state of the UK. Busted.
- John, dundee
I had my formative years in the era of Margaret Thatscher,now she might have not been everybodies cup of tea she was of the old school though.A woman of high esteem and character,not to be corrupted by money.Dennis and Margaret had money,so there was no problem on that score.Since Tony Blair entered nr 10,he has accumulated much wealth indeed far more than any prime minister has ever done.At the same time his phoney approach,his new labour,and the total dishonesty of his era has destroyed the uk and its standing overseas.The country is islolated,it does not function as part of europe,in fact it functions only really in its own isolation.We need politcians in europe who are people of standing,people of character ,non egotistical,self intersted coifured politicians who see the greater picture of europe.The europe of today is very different from the europe of Edward Heaths era.
We dont need mr blair as president of europe,mrs merkel is right now way,he should become a hollywood star in move to beverly hills,he has just the right talent for the job and a wonderful gleaming smile.So we should wish him well in tinsel town and have a president on a par with mr obama.He will or she will have to be some person to do the job
- Bernard Michaelis, sparneck germany
Champion of money for old rope.
- Roboscourge, Hammersmith
".. securing big European agreements .."
Signing away British sovereignty to secure his job as President don't you mean?
What a profoundly dishonest party Labour are.
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
champion of europe ?
wouldn't he prefer to be called the champion of iraq ?
- Clive, london
Before they elect this clown with the support of the talentless Mr Brown I hope other EU leaders take a look at the economic model that is UK Ltd. The US is now pulling out of recession, near EU neighbors already on the level or starting to climb whilst, "the best placed economy" to quote McBroon, is still lagging behind. Don't do it, send him back with his odious wife to the lecture circuit and elect anyone else.
- Cratchet, HLC, SUNNY LINCOLNSHIRE.
What "support" does Brown have to throw ?
He isn't even elected PM.
I suspect Brown wears some kind of abdominal support,
& threw it a Blair in one of his rages
- British Not Racist, Bracknell England
He just doesn't get it!! They are all tarred with the same brush. Haven't got a brain cell in their heads except "how to look after their own and sod the rest of us. Never mind about WHO is the right person for this not yet created job. B + B well there is a coincidence!!!
- Peter, Vienna, Austria
Broon knows either before or after the election he will be out. He agrees to cutting the MP's pension scheme.
Why not set up a possible euro job?
Bliar is useless!!!
As for Keith, the Luton Loopy the other day it was PN???
Now it is Howed?? who he Ed?
- Macdangler, Wimbledon SW19
Initially I was puzzled that Brown would be lobbying for Blair, after all the body language between them is not too friendly. Then the light bulb went on: in 7 months time Gordon will not have the big job and who better to get him a big job than his friend Tony, President of Europe. Problem for Gordon is that Tony's quite good at pulling the ladder up after him.
- Stephen C, London
What country will Europe go to war with when he gets in?.
- Davey_Bouy, Chertsey Surrey
- Keith Price, Luton England
European leaders do not 'love Blair' as you say. Just go and read the european newspapers on line and you will soon find the truth - they loathe the man. The only person who has been supporting Blair (but is now backing down) is the idiot Berlusconi. Hardly a good recommendation!
The EU will never have Blair as president because they know only too well that he could be up infront of a war crimes tribunal in a few years. Don't forget he lied about WMD and eveyone knows that now.
- David H, London
Quote: Keith Price, Luton England. Tony B;air is quite odviosly the right man for the job. The haters in Tory ranks - who have never experience government office - are trying to carry out a hatchet job. They deserve to be idnored by Europe's leaders
Tony Blair has no ‘’Democratic Government Experience’’ either, Keith; more a dictators experience of no democracy at all, Tony Blair made sure the British Nation had no referendum on any say in, or about, Europe etc.
But I finally see where you are coming from, Keith; Europe is not a Democratic State, so a Dictator is ideal for running Europe; and in that light; there is no better dictator, better suited to run Europe; than Tony Blair.
Tony is a very advanced Politician for his age; he must be the first Capitalist-Socialist ever; and he knows how to make money, smarm all over people, and milk the system better than anyone else alive in the world today.
So you are right Keith; Europe and Tony Blair, are a perfect match for each other.
- Mickinlondon, london
Val, a person like Tony does not do something for nothing. Have you never wondered where his property empire came from? His last property, his sixth, cost him about 1.3m. Cherie did alright thank you out of the Human Rights issue, maybe if Tony gets the EU job she will have chambers next to his castle in the EU and major in EU legislation. Pays to be well connected and if you have got El President`s wife acting on your behalf you can charge that little bit extra.
- Brian G, Norfolk Gorleston
Keith - it not just Tory or Lib Dem voters who dislike Blair - a lot of Labour voters do too. He is only interested in the EU post if it gives him political importance (he is not interested if the job is based in an EU office somewhere dealing with the administration of the EU - which shows he is in it to boost his ego. The Blair family are a disgrace - having feathered their own nest very nicely c/o the tax payer (and no his expenses receipts were not shredded but he is using the 30 year rule to prevent them being seen and investigated - which shows just how much he has to hide - although we already know how he remortgaged his constituency property to more than 3 times the price he paid for it so that he could use the funds to buy his central London home whilst ensuring the taxpayer paid the interest on the constituency home!)
- Jackie, lo
The worst prime minister we've had 2nd to Gordon Brown Tony Blair is only interested in one thing.... Tony Blair. Heaven help Europe with all of his bragging strutting his stuff and also that horrible greedy side kick of his Cherie the witch,it doesn't bear thinking about
- El Del, Valencia Spain
Thanks, but no Thanks. We have had quite enough of him.
- Frank, Bournemouth, England
Tony Blair is only being supported by his Labour buddies for one simple reason and that is their desire to obtain his favour in finding them a job when they get booted out of office next year
- Wallytrader, London
The sooner th UK becomes the 51st State of the USA, the better. It may not be perfect, but at least there's room to breathe, free speech is respected and the voters are not talked down to and abused by those who represent them. How is it that we are ruled over by a body of unelected people in another country? And now there will be an unelected President? What a joke. America still practices Democracy while we sleepwalk into oblivion.
- Chris, London UK
"My boy in Luton tells me that Mr Blair is lovely, and that's good enough for me,"
I totally agree. We should accept the fact that Europe's leaders all adore him and he did win 3 more elections than Hague or Howed or Cameron will
- Keith Price, Luton England
Denis,
The 'Little Englanders' have been given no say on the formation of the new country. Most in the U.K. strongly prefer to keep the U.K. as their country. With legal personality, a President and a High Representative (Foreign Minister), the E.U. has all the trappings of a new country. You can't create a federal state, and turn countries into provinces without any say from the people. You can't force allegiance to a new larger country. That's why the E.U. will ultimately fail. Mind you, I do see benefits for a bigger country, such as the large problems with climate change and the environment that are coming. But even so, you can't shove a new system of government onto people without giving them any say in the matter.
- Phil Jones, London UK
Blair is 'not fit for purpose' End of!
- Kevin Sullivan, Roehampton, London
Denis: Where have you been for the past ten years whilst Liebour have been power? Oh, yeah, China! So you'd know all about what its like in the UK after having the worse government in the whole of our history ruin this once great country.
- Sue, Orpington, Kent
The best comment to watch on this is on UTUBE....William Hague Gordons Nightmare,he pretty much sums it all up.Even the Labour benches are laughing.But he is right,Blair has history,he would make the position take more and more power,bigger bureaucracy and more rules.Just look what has happened here.
Watch it and think.
- Grumpy As Hell, Wimbledon
Tony B;air is quite odviosly the right man for the job. The haters in Tory ranks - who have never experience government office - are trying to carry out a hatchet job. They deserve to be idnored by Europe's leaders
- Keith Price, Luton England
#Julie London
You seem not to know that Tony Blair was requested to become a Peacy Envoy in the Middle East by Barack Obama, President Putin, the Arab States and the EU. They can't all be wrong, or do you know something they don't? It is an unpaid position and just because he doesn't report to the press on his progress or otherwise, doesn't mean he is not doing a good job. Were he the sad failure the right wing press describe him as, I'm pretty sure he would have been replaced by someone else. I wonder why it is that we have never seen a previous Conservative leader on the world stage working for peace; perhaps it is because none of them were deemed good enough and had nothing of any value to offer.
- Val Daniels, Mijas Costa, Spain
Of course Blair will cause divisions - not only between the UK and the rest of Europe, but between the European parliament and the probable incoming Tory government.
You can't fault Labour for their planning in lining up Saint Tony for the job as Euro Supremo, just as it appears likely that he will be imposing new legislation on a Conservative UK government.
Just when our country needs a few years to get itself back on an even keel after 13 years of Labour mismanagement, we are going to get another 5 years of left-leaning policies to implement via the Lords of Brussels.
We should all be very worried.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, the Scottish one
Blair divided Europe in the past & will continue to do so in the future. Europe does not need a showman as its new president. He has too many on-going and highly paid projects to be able to focus on Europe.
The job should go to someone who will fight for Europe's harmony, people who are better placed than Blair, like Finland's Martti Oiva Kalevi Ahtisaari, the 2008 Nobel Peace Prize laureate and United Nations diplomat and mediator, noted for his international peace work. A highly respected international leader or Carl Bildt, Sweden's former Minister of Foreign Affairs. Someone from a smaller nation who can fight above their weight is better suited, someone who has already proven themselves on the international stage and who has rallied people, not divided them.
- Frank, Copenhagen, Denmark
Give him the job and then, perhaps, the EU will implode and we can return to the original concept of the Common Market
- Peter Glazier, Sao Paulo, Brazil
He says he'll accept the job if it allows him to "make a difference" in the world., Mr. Blair, you have already made a difference. You have divided it into the few who support you and the many who don't want you. You supported Mr. Bush when France, Germany and Spain refused to.
So please, retire gracefully with your lovely wife and don't make any more differences.
- Sidney Marks, London, UK
Oh ye of little faith.Whilst you all did well in your London housae prices rising astrinomically under New Labour and Tony Blair you fall for the claptrap of Tory Anti-European claptack.When you really should know without Europe where would your jobs and the number 1 position of the city and the financial world be,Methinks without Europe London would be relegated to being a non- entity.
Tony Blair would be the right man to be President of EUrope andd Gordon Brown to be the next Prime minister of the UK.
How unpatriotic of the Xenophobic Tories to turn against Europe at this important time or is it that the Little Englanders of Camerons party are so insulated that they are living in the past.
- Denis Regan, harbin china
Imagine Tory Toff Samantha Cameron having to Curtsy to Cherie Blair ...
I say give the job to Ken Livingstone they would not know what had hit them!!!!
- Melvyn, Canvey Island, Essex
My boy in Luton tells me that Mr Blair is lovely, and that's good enough for me, and should be for you. I do worry about Keith sometimes, though: I just read his letter to Santa, he must know he could never have Blair's babies, doesn't he?
- Keith'S Mum, Reading
Thankfully most of the correspondents here are aware of Blair's major failings as it would be a total mistake to make him 'President Of Europe'.
His primary purpose on winning the election in 1997 was to hold onto power rather than running the country.
I believe his decisions to support and commit the UK to joining the US in the invasions of both Afghanistan and Iraq were based on the popularity gained by Thatcher from the re-taking of the Falklands. In that case a war we could win. I certainly endorse the view that his true motives should be examined and if that leads to a possible war crimes trial so be it. In my view that would do more to make the streets of the UK safer. Certainly better than to go on killing in Afghanistan.
His actions with regard to expenses, second homes and his activities since leaving Parliament, mark him down as one driven by greed. If he had shown leadership on the expenses issue rather than thinking of the best way he could fill his own pockets. Maybe other politicians would not have descended into a money grabbing free-for-all, at the tax payers' expense.
As for Brown supporting his chances, it merely shows once again, that when it comes to making choices, Gordon can be relied upon to get it wrong, again and again. Thank goodness we can rely on Germany and France to have the good sense to put their support elsewhere.
- Harry H, London UK
What has Blair ever done to make him think that he is fit for the position of EU President? During his time as British Prime Minister politics became sleazy whilst he employed PR consultants at our expense to promote the false image that he was 'purer than pure'. As the representative of the EU in Israel he has achieved nothing except receiving loads of cash. We don't want him involved in public life ever again.
- Neil Summers, London
Give the job to Boris Johonson
- Richard Edmunds, Rayleigh UK
If he could start 5 wars while prime minister of a little dot like britain just imagine the damage he and his "higher authority" could do if put in charge of Europe.
- Steve, Brentford
Good photo. It appears the smug grin has been wiped off Mr Bliar's face.
- Marianne, SW France/London
EU President! Do me a favour - Bliar should be in the dock at The Hague being prosecuted for war crimes.
Sickening how this greedy,two-faced,devious,war-mongering parasite could even be considered for such a powerful position.
I'd back the President of Luxembourg anyday over Tony B.Liar
- Anon Pc, London Compound,Londongrad,EUSSR
Europe was sold to the British public as a trading alliance of independent sovereign states, not as a single federal state. In these circumstances the post being discussed would be both meaningless and unnecessary.
However if this post is to be foisted upon us, Blair would seem suitable a a totally dishonest leader for a totally dishonest organisation.
- Warren H, London
The man is in love with two things: POWER and HIMSELF.
- Loli, Lodon UK
He must not be allowed to take this position. It would be the worst thing for the UK and rest of Europe. Added to the very scary thought of his wife running around as the president's wife! One shudders just to think of that.
- Joanna Carling, london
Charles Clarke said Tony Blair was wrong for the job? Offhand, I cannot think of a job that Charles Clarke himself was ever suitable for. Looking at his track record, I would suggest he got positions and promotions because of loyalty, not because he was necessarily any good at anything. Maybe he ought to sit down and be quiet.
- Graham Rodhouse, Helmond, Netherlands
With Blair's track record over Iraq and several other less serious issues, many EU countries would be in a state of denial by backing the man now, and I for one don't trust his judgement. There is a quote from Shakespeare which sums it up
" That one may smile, and smile, and be a villain."
- Jon Kent, Hertford. UK
If its 'big enough' the job won't want an arrogant failure like Blair.
- Frances A, Bayswater, UK
The more committed Eurpeans in Germany and France don't want him, their perception is that he is anti - federal and not singing the the tunes they want to hear.
I suspect it's mainly in this country that he is thought to have a chance.
- Frank H., London UK.
this man Clarke is a joke.how did he become a minister is an mystery ,glad Brown does not rate him.
- Vural Kugu, london
Tony is defiantly the wrong man for the job.
- A Tax Slave, london
The British political class should get real. Lisbon is about to happen and it will be Tony Blair or that Luxembourg person (Mr. Juncker) no one in the World has heard of. If Blair was not to get in the EU would follow an even more unreformed CAP, anti small business and protectionists strategy. It is not a perfect world.
- Andrew, London
His track record is clear, not only in his Gulf State meddling, and his subsequent atonement as 'peacemaker', for which he has shown no apparent interest, but the EU should really worry, especially the smaller states, that he will do to teh EU what he did to England, bring it to its knees. Perhaps his real agenda is to provide a red carpet welcome to American financial interests.
- Julie, London
