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| I am best for new EU job - Ashton | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Baroness Ashton has hit back at claims she does not have enough experience for the post of EU high representative for Foreign Affairs and security. | |
| The Labour peer was the surprise choice of Europe's leaders for the role - dubbed the first EU foreign minister. | |
| Lady Ashton told the BBC that EU leaders were "comfortable" with her appointment - and that she will show she is "the best person for the job". | |
| Belgian Herman van Rompuy is the new president of the EU Council. | |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown has welcomed the decision to appoint his friend and ally Baroness Ashton to the new EU role, saying it gave Britain "a powerful voice in Europe". | |
| 'Slightly surprised' | |
| The Tories said they would work with Baroness Ashton and Mr van Rompuy, "in the British national interest". | |
| Critics said Ashton and van Rompuy were relative unknowns with little political clout. | |
| Baroness Ashton was a government minister for eight years, latterly as leader of the House of Lords, before being chosen to replace Lord Mandelson as EU Trade Commissioner in 2008. | Baroness Ashton was a government minister for eight years, latterly as leader of the House of Lords, before being chosen to replace Lord Mandelson as EU Trade Commissioner in 2008. |
| It is good news for Europe that a British woman is in such an important post. Ed Davey, Lib Dems Top EU posts bring mixed response Papers unite against EU president Profile: Baroness Ashton Send us your comments | |
| She said she was "slightly surprised but... deeply privileged" to be given the role. | She said she was "slightly surprised but... deeply privileged" to be given the role. |
| "I will make sure I represent our values across the world, and I will endeavour to do in my own way the best that I can," she said. | "I will make sure I represent our values across the world, and I will endeavour to do in my own way the best that I can," she said. |
| Foreign Secretary David Miliband had been linked to the role, created under the terms of the Lisbon Treaty, but said he wanted to stay in British politics. | |
| Mr Brown backed Baroness Ashton for the role after accepting Tony Blair could not become European Council president. | Mr Brown backed Baroness Ashton for the role after accepting Tony Blair could not become European Council president. |
| Lower profile | |
| He told journalists he hoped the appointment would be "welcomed" in the UK and denied she lacked the clout to do the job. | He told journalists he hoped the appointment would be "welcomed" in the UK and denied she lacked the clout to do the job. |
| "In this role, Cathy Ashton will have a unique role over the next five years in shaping the global Europe of the future," he said. | "In this role, Cathy Ashton will have a unique role over the next five years in shaping the global Europe of the future," he said. |
| Mr Brown did admit that he still believed Mr Blair would have been "excellent" in the president's role. | Mr Brown did admit that he still believed Mr Blair would have been "excellent" in the president's role. |
| Baroness Ashton says she will work with "quiet diplomacy" in her new role | |
| The Conservatives, on the other hand, expressed satisfaction that the lower-profile Belgian, Mr van Rompuy, had been appointed instead. | The Conservatives, on the other hand, expressed satisfaction that the lower-profile Belgian, Mr van Rompuy, had been appointed instead. |
| Shadow foreign secretary William Hague said: "I am very pleased that those of us across Europe who said that the president should be a chairman, not a chief, have won the argument." | Shadow foreign secretary William Hague said: "I am very pleased that those of us across Europe who said that the president should be a chairman, not a chief, have won the argument." |
| Mr Hague congratulated Baroness Ashton on her new job, although the Conservative Party's leader in the European Parliament, Timothy Kirkhope, seemed less impressed. | Mr Hague congratulated Baroness Ashton on her new job, although the Conservative Party's leader in the European Parliament, Timothy Kirkhope, seemed less impressed. |
| "We now have someone who has never faced the British electorate in a post created by a treaty that also never faced the British electorate," he said. | "We now have someone who has never faced the British electorate in a post created by a treaty that also never faced the British electorate," he said. |
| 'Political pygmies' | |
| Former Labour leader and former EU commissioner Lord Kinnock said she was a "very substantial" figure who would do an outstanding job. | Former Labour leader and former EU commissioner Lord Kinnock said she was a "very substantial" figure who would do an outstanding job. |
| He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "What they have gone for is high quality, functional effectiveness, not flamboyance and I think that that's reassuring to some people. | He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "What they have gone for is high quality, functional effectiveness, not flamboyance and I think that that's reassuring to some people. |
| "What it means is that the leaders of the governments of the EU understand the jobs that need to be done and have picked two people who, on the basis of their proven capacities, will do those jobs to a very, very high standard." | "What it means is that the leaders of the governments of the EU understand the jobs that need to be done and have picked two people who, on the basis of their proven capacities, will do those jobs to a very, very high standard." |
| But the former leader of UKIP, the MEP Nigel Farage, branded the EU decision "disgraceful". | But the former leader of UKIP, the MEP Nigel Farage, branded the EU decision "disgraceful". |
| "We've got the appointment of two political pygmies," he said. "In terms of a global voice, the European Union will now be much derided by the rest of the world." | "We've got the appointment of two political pygmies," he said. "In terms of a global voice, the European Union will now be much derided by the rest of the world." |
| He added: "Baroness Ashton is ideal for the role. She has never had a proper job and never been elected to public office." | He added: "Baroness Ashton is ideal for the role. She has never had a proper job and never been elected to public office." |
| The Lib Dems, however, welcomed the appointments, saying they would "give lie to the scaremongering of the anti-Europeans over the Lisbon Treaty". | The Lib Dems, however, welcomed the appointments, saying they would "give lie to the scaremongering of the anti-Europeans over the Lisbon Treaty". |
| "With low-profile appointees, no-one can take seriously any longer the Eurosceptic deception that these positions would challenge the supremacy of nation states acting together when they agree," foreign affairs spokesman Ed Davey said. | "With low-profile appointees, no-one can take seriously any longer the Eurosceptic deception that these positions would challenge the supremacy of nation states acting together when they agree," foreign affairs spokesman Ed Davey said. |
| "European leaders have shown great sense in choosing such high calibre people to chair their meetings and it is good news for Europe that a British woman is in such an important post." | "European leaders have shown great sense in choosing such high calibre people to chair their meetings and it is good news for Europe that a British woman is in such an important post." |