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Blair 'is EU president candidate' UK 'backs Blair for EU president'
(about 1 hour later)
Ex-prime minister Tony Blair is the UK candidate for president of the European Council, Europe Minister Baroness Kinnock has apparently confirmed. Tony Blair will be the UK's official candidate for EU president, Baroness Kinnock has apparently confirmed.
At a briefing for journalists in Strasbourg, Lady Kinnock said the UK was supporting Mr Blair for one of the most powerful posts in the EU. The post will only be created if the Lisbon Treaty is ratified by all EU states - Ireland is to hold a second referendum in October.
Asked if this had been discussed with Mr Blair, she said the government "would not do that without asking him". There has long been speculation that the former PM would go for the post but he has not confirmed he will do so.
The post depends on Irish backing of the Lisbon Treaty in a referendum. It is the first time a UK government minister has publicly announced Tony Blair is a candidate for the job.
But this is the first time a UK government minister has publicly announced Tony Blair is a candidate for the job. Previously, ministers have said it was premature to talk of supporting any particular candidate when the job itself did not exist.
Previously, ministers have said that as there was at present no job, any talk of supporting a specific candidate was premature. 'Strength of character'
But at a briefing in Strasbourg, Europe Minister Lady Kinnock said: "The UK government is supporting Tony Blair's candidature for president of the Council [of EU governments]."
Asked if it had been discussed with Mr Blair, currently a Middle East envoy, she said: "It is the government's position. I am sure they would not do that without asking him."
Tony Blair may well be a respected politician around the world, but he is also yesterday's news Lorraine MullallyOpen Europe
Lady Kinnock went on to say Mr Blair had the "strength of character" and "status" to take on the job.Lady Kinnock went on to say Mr Blair had the "strength of character" and "status" to take on the job.
She added: "People know who he is, and he could step into this new role with a lot of respect and he would be generally welcomed."She added: "People know who he is, and he could step into this new role with a lot of respect and he would be generally welcomed."
Later, an official emphasised that the Irish Republic had yet to hold its referendum on the Treaty. But there have been reports that Mr Blair's role in the Iraq war and Britain's failure to join the euro, could go against him.
But the official added that if and when the treaty came into force and Mr Blair decided to run as a candidate, he would have government support. Ireland was the only EU member state to hold a public vote on the treaty, which must be ratified by all 27 countries. The treaty was rejected in that referendum last June. It will hold a second referendum in the autumn.
The precise role of the EU president has not been laid out. The Swedish government, which currently holds the six-month EU presidency, has suggested drawing up a proper job description before seeing which available political figure fits it best.
Campaign group Open Europe said the EU should stick with the rotating presidency which allows the current national leaders - who have a democratic mandate - to set the EU's agenda on a six-monthly basis.
Director Lorraine Mullally said: "Tony Blair may well be a respected politician around the world, but he is also yesterday's news.
"The problem with creating a post of EU president is that it would inevitably go to an ex-leader who has lost the support of his or her own electorate."
Since leaving Downing Street in 2007, Mr Blair has been appointed Middle East peace envoy and launched the Tony Blair Faith Foundation, which aims to foster better relations between world religions.