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| I am best for new EU job - Ashton | I am best for new EU job - Ashton |
| (about 2 hours 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. | 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. | 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". | 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. | Belgian Herman van Rompuy is the new president of the EU Council. |
| On Thursday UK prime minister Gordon Brown abandoned his campaign for his predecessor Tony Blair to get the president's job after recognising he did not have enough support. | On Thursday UK prime minister Gordon Brown abandoned his campaign for his predecessor Tony Blair to get the president's job after recognising he did not have enough support. |
| Appointments criticised | Appointments criticised |
| Instead Baroness Ashton got the other top job created by the Lisbon Treaty - often referred to as the "EU's foreign minister". | Instead Baroness Ashton got the other top job created by the Lisbon Treaty - often referred to as the "EU's foreign minister". |
| She 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. | She 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. |
| Critics attacked the appointments as a "stitch-up" done behind closed doors and Baroness Ashton and Mr van Rompuy were relative unknowns with little political clout. | Critics attacked the appointments as a "stitch-up" done behind closed doors and Baroness Ashton and Mr van Rompuy were relative unknowns with little political clout. |
| On BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Baroness Ashton dismissed claims that she had never been elected and millions of Europeans had no say in her appointment. | On BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Baroness Ashton dismissed claims that she had never been elected and millions of Europeans had no say in her appointment. |
| Over the next few months and years I aim to show I am the best person for this job Baroness Ashton href="/2/hi/europe/8369986.stm">Selection process like Rubik's cube Papers unite against EU president Profile: Baroness Ashton Send us your comments | |
| "Their 27 elected heads of state have had a say and they all decided on me," she said. | "Their 27 elected heads of state have had a say and they all decided on me," she said. |
| She rejected criticism the appointments had been decided in secret saying: "We should never take away those opportunities for heads of state to talk frankly to one another". | She rejected criticism the appointments had been decided in secret saying: "We should never take away those opportunities for heads of state to talk frankly to one another". |
| EU leaders were "very comfortable" with her appointment, she said adding: "This is not about a fudge it's about trying to reach a conclusion." | EU leaders were "very comfortable" with her appointment, she said adding: "This is not about a fudge it's about trying to reach a conclusion." |
| "Over the next few months and years I aim to show I am the best person for this job," she said. | "Over the next few months and years I aim to show I am the best person for this job," she said. |
| "I think for quite a few people they would say I am the best for the job and I was chosen because I am." | "I think for quite a few people they would say I am the best for the job and I was chosen because I am." |
| 'More powerful' | 'More powerful' |
| She added: "I hope that my particular set of skills will show that in the end I am the best choice." | She added: "I hope that my particular set of skills will show that in the end I am the best choice." |
| And she denied suggestions that US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and other foreign ministers did not know who she was. | And she denied suggestions that US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and other foreign ministers did not know who she was. |
| "It's not the case at all, of course there are foreign ministers I haven't met but ... I have worked alongside ministers from across the world," she said. | "It's not the case at all, of course there are foreign ministers I haven't met but ... I have worked alongside ministers from across the world," she said. |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme |
| She added: "It's not about gathering power, it's about saying as a team we are much more powerful and I will represent that team." | She added: "It's not about gathering power, it's about saying as a team we are much more powerful and I will represent that team." |
| BBC Europe editor Gavin Hewitt said some Eurosceptics would be celebrating the appointment of Mr van Rompuy because it signalled an end to calls for a powerful European Council president who would impact on the world stage. | BBC Europe editor Gavin Hewitt said some Eurosceptics would be celebrating the appointment of Mr van Rompuy because it signalled an end to calls for a powerful European Council president who would impact on the world stage. |
| 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". | 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". |
| Lower-profile | Lower-profile |
| Mr Brown said he still believed Mr Blair would have been "excellent" in the president's role but the Conservatives expressed satisfaction that the lower-profile Belgian, Mr van Rompuy, had been appointed instead. | Mr Brown said he still believed Mr Blair would have been "excellent" in the president's role but the Conservatives 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." |
| Baroness Ashton is ideal for the role. She has never had a proper job and never been elected to public office Nigel FarageUKIP Top EU posts bring mixed response | Baroness Ashton is ideal for the role. She has never had a proper job and never been elected to public office Nigel FarageUKIP Top EU posts bring mixed response |
| 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. |
| 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." |
| But Nigel Farage, leader of the UK Independence Party, which campaigns for Britain's withdrawal from the EU, branded the decision "disgraceful". | But Nigel Farage, leader of the UK Independence Party, which campaigns for Britain's withdrawal from the EU, branded the 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 Liberal Democrats welcomed the news. 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." | The Liberal Democrats welcomed the news. 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." |