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Europe needs Blair’s style of leadership says Mandelson
Paul Waugh, Deputy Political Editor6 Nov 2009
Lord Mandelson launched a last-ditch push for Tony Blair to become EU President today as he warned that Brussels needed strong “leadership” to compete on the global stage.
The Business Secretary also played down speculation that David Miliband could get the “consolation prize” of EU foreign affairs chief if Mr Blair's candidacy failed.
Lord Mandelson used a speech in Brussels to declare that the European Union needed an international statesman to match the clout of the US and China's leaders.
Belgian premier Herman Van Rompuy is emerging as the favoured candidate among countries who want the President to be more of a “chairman” than a powerful chief executive.
But Lord Mandelson said “leadership is at an absolute premium” if the EU were to avoid being overshadowed by the growing power of Beijing, as well as India, Brazil and Washington. “One of Europe's key deficits is leadership. It is personalities and policies that will make the difference,” he added.
Mr Blair's hopes of winning the newly-created post of EU President appeared to suffer a major setback last week when French President Nicolas Sarkozy hinted that he and German Chancellor Angela Merkel favoured another, less high-profile candidate, after describing Mr Blair as being “flash”.
Reader views (25)
Any candidate favoured by Mandelson should be automatically eliminated.
- Maggie, Battersea, UK, 06/11/2009 13:17
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"Europe needs Blair’s style of leadership" yeh like we all need a hole in our heads
- Ade, London, 06/11/2009 12:15
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Blair wrecked his own country and done a runner!. What will he do to the rest of europe?. This can`t and must not happen!
- Andy, london, 06/11/2009 12:14
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In the same way that I need root canal surgery without anaesthetic.
- Andy Woodhead, London, ENGLAND, 06/11/2009 11:43
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To those who think it would be good to have an Englishman in the job, this is the same Englishman who signed away our rebate, doubled our contributions and reneged on his manifesto pledge to give us a referendum on the EU constitution/Lisbon treaty. Not to mention taken us into 2 wars that had nothing to do with us. Blair does not care a jot about the interests of the UK, only his own. He will sell this country down the river if it will endear him to other world leaders. This is what he has consistently done.
- Kevin T, Beckenham, Kent, 06/11/2009 11:42
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Geert Wilders should get the Job,and while we're at it scrap the London Olympics and call a general election,so we can sack this rotten traitorous Government.Please no more images of Mandelspin before the weekend,this is getting close to abuse and could damage the eyes.
- General Lee Wright, Bent Kent, Fragmented UK., 06/11/2009 11:28
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I think this country has quite enough of his style of leadership,thankyou.
- Grumpy As Hell, Wimbledon, 06/11/2009 11:26
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Style over substance.
- Dave Davies, Basingstoke, Hants, 06/11/2009 11:23
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Blair the fool who brought us 24-hour booze, The Dome, The Iraq War, Peerages for sale, and other cock-ups too numerous to mention. PS. He even dumped Brown on us.
- Frederick, London, 06/11/2009 11:18
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Well, he would, wouldn't he!
Mandelson states that Europe needs leadership to match the clout of the US and China's leaders. The leaders of those countries gain their clout from election and repression respectively. Assuming Mandelson is not advocating the Chinese model, one wonders how a European president, installed by a secretive cabal who pay little heed to the niceties of accountability and democracy, could match the electoral mandate of a US President.
This deficit would particularly apply to Blair who would be an unpopular choice throughout most of Europe. Some may conclude that Mandelson's efforts in this direction are more concerned with returning old favours than what is good for a democratic Europe.
- John C, Leatherhead, UK, 06/11/2009 11:18
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Great, this goes from bad to worse, the unelected promoting the unelected.
We already have unelected European Commissioners dictating Policy and Laws. Europe is now very vulnerable to becoming a dictatorship by stealth.
David Cameron is reported to be looking at bringing in British Sovereignty Laws. As McBruun & his halfwit goverment has handed the UK over to Brussels (without the promised referendum) we are going to need some urgent protection.
- Mark Myword, London, 06/11/2009 10:48
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Yeah right, if he can start 5 wars in charge of this little tiny dot just imagine what he can do in charge of the whole of europe.
- Steve, Brentford, 06/11/2009 10:31
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I don't know of one person outside of the Labour cabinet who thinks it's a good idea. But then we have an unelected bloke running the country ... and an unelected Prime Minister!
- Paul, London, 06/11/2009 10:19
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That Mandelson is funny, he should have his own stand up show.
- Jimbob, Kensington, 06/11/2009 10:11
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Jon Kent wrote 'now the EU is 'Lisbonised' any decision by the president to bring the EU into a new illegal war, eg an invasion of Iran, would suck in all 27 EU members, not just the UK'
There is no power for the president to declare war.
Europe needs a public and diplomatic face that can hold his/her own with the US and China. They must also be able to stand up to Germany and France. I can't think of anyone else who fits the bill but they will choose a faceless Eurocrat that nobody has heard of or takes seriously but who the Germans and French can control. Blair is the best worst choice for the UK, get over it
- Cronk, London, 06/11/2009 10:11
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Lying, you mean?
- Nobby Clark, Perth, the Scottish one, 06/11/2009 10:09
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We do not want an Englishman holding this post,far better a foreigner?
- Joe, London, 06/11/2009 10:08
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It's odd that Mandelspin knows exactly what we need and yet not only has his Government screwed up everything in this country, if he had what it takes to stand for election as an MP (we can assume he doesn't I think), he would lose and lose badly in even the safest Labour seat.
- St, London, 06/11/2009 10:05
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The EU only has to look at the total lack of support from the UK for Bliar to realise he is nothing but trouble.Also,how can the leader of the EU come from a country that never got to have a democratic vote on the EU treaty and which has a 60% NO to even joining this communist Superstate.
- Dave, london, 06/11/2009 10:03
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Well the creeping, unelected, little toady would say that wouldn't he. Probably on a promise of yet another gravy-train job !
- Jimmy, London, 06/11/2009 10:01
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You cannot be serious!
- J R J, Glen Vine, 06/11/2009 09:28
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Europe needs Blair like a hole in the head. For a start, now the EU is 'Lisbonised' any decision by the president to bring the EU into a new illegal war, eg an invasion of Iran, would suck in all 27 EU members, not just the UK. If we must have an EU president, let it be someone who has business experience and will promote exports, has credibility, ie impartiality, in brokering the Arabs and Israelis to promote a peace settlement, and has no track record of broken promises-eg promising the UK electorate a vote on the Lisbon treaty. That rules out Blair then, doesn't it?
- Jon Kent, Hertford. UK, 06/11/2009 09:27
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Europe needs Blair’s style of leadership like a hole in the head. I wouldn't launch Blair on my worst enemy!.
- Steve, London, 06/11/2009 09:27
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A touch of 'Birds of a feather' and all that. We want to forget you (Mandy) and Teflon Tony.
- Tony, Herts, 06/11/2009 09:24
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Spare us.
- Squiz, Islington, 06/11/2009 09:12
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