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| I am best for new EU job - Ashton | I am best for new EU job - Ashton |
| (about 5 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. |
| 'Stitch-up' | 'Stitch-up' |
| Instead Baroness Ashton got the other top job created by the Lisbon Treaty. | Instead Baroness Ashton got the other top job created by the Lisbon Treaty. |
| 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, saying 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, saying 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 that millions of Europeans had had no say in her appointment. | On BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Baroness Ashton dismissed claims that she had never been elected and that millions of Europeans had 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 Profile: Baroness Ashton class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8370191.stm">Analysis: 'Unknowns' in senior posts 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. | EU leaders were "very comfortable" with her appointment, she said. |
| "This is not about a fudge, it's about trying to reach a conclusion. | "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. | "Over the next few months and years I aim to show I am the best person for this job. |
| "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." |
| CND support | CND support |
| 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 |
| "It's not about gathering power, it's about saying as a team we are much more powerful and I will represent that team." | "It's not about gathering power, it's about saying as a team we are much more powerful and I will represent that team." |
| Downing Street said Lady Ashton's appointment was "a very good result for Britain" and dismissed suggestions she was not up to the job. | Downing Street said Lady Ashton's appointment was "a very good result for Britain" and dismissed suggestions she was not up to the job. |
| The prime minister's official spokesman also rejected suggestions her past support for CND - she worked for the anti-nuclear group in the late 1970s - meant she was unsuitable for a post that involved responsibility for EU security policy, saying it was "a very long time ago". | The prime minister's official spokesman also rejected suggestions her past support for CND - she worked for the anti-nuclear group in the late 1970s - meant she was unsuitable for a post that involved responsibility for EU security policy, saying it was "a very long time ago". |
| The spokesman said Mr Brown had spoken to Mr Blair on Thursday after it became apparent that he was not going to get the presidency. | The spokesman said Mr Brown had spoken to Mr Blair on Thursday after it became apparent that he was not going to get the presidency. |
| "Tony Blair, I think, completely understands the situation. I think he has been very understanding about how these meetings have panned out," he said. | "Tony Blair, I think, completely understands the situation. I think he has been very understanding about how these meetings have panned out," he said. |
| 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. |
| Mr 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". | Mr 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". |
| 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. |
| 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 |
| Former Labour leader and former EU commissioner Lord Kinnock said she was a "very substantial" figure who would do an outstanding job, while Lord Mandelson said the appointment of Mr van Rompuy and Baroness Ashton would help ensure Europe punched above its weight. | Former Labour leader and former EU commissioner Lord Kinnock said she was a "very substantial" figure who would do an outstanding job, while Lord Mandelson said the appointment of Mr van Rompuy and Baroness Ashton would help ensure Europe punched above its weight. |
| 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." |