Blair beaten as Belgian and baroness get top jobs

Published on Thursday 19 November 2009 21:55

GORDON Brown insisted last night that Britain would remain a powerful voice in Brussels after Labour peer Baroness Ashton was appointed as the European Union's first foreign minister.

She was the surprise choice of the 27 EU heads of government – including the Prime Minister – after Tony Blair's candidacy for the European Council presidency was quashed.

Belgian prime minister Herman van Rompuy was named as Europe's first president, with Baroness Ashton of Upholland as high representative for foreign and security policy.

The Prime Minister, who had lobbied for his predecessor, Mr Blair, to get the top job, said Mr van Rompuy had a reputation for "integrity and resolve" and the necessary qualities as a diplomat, statesman and negotiator.

Mr Brown felt that Mr Blair would have been "excellent" for the job, but said it had become clear that the European centre-right parties wanted one of their own members as president.

The appointment of Baroness Ashton, who will also be vice-president of the European Commission, means Britain has surrendered its influence over trade affairs – Baroness Ashton is currently EU trade commissioner.

"It gives Britain a powerful voice both within the European Council and the commission," Mr Brown said. "It will ensure, of course, that Britain's voice is very loud and clear. It will ensure that we will remain, as I want us to be, at the heart of Europe.

"In this role, Cathy Ashton will have a unique role over the next five years in shaping the global Europe of the future. She will be the first permanent chair of the European Union foreign affairs council and she will be a vice-president of the European Commission, giving her a leading voice on all the commission's proposals."

Baroness Ashton, a former Leader of the House of Lords who has risen rapidly under Mr Brown's premiership, described her job as "a challenge". Shadow foreign secretary William Hague congratulated the duo and said the Conservatives would work with them "in the British national interest". He continued: "We did not agree with the Lisbon Treaty's establishment of these posts, but they are now a fact. 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 was so surprised by her "promotion" that she had no speech prepared when she held a joint press conference with Mr van Rompuy. The rank outsider was elevated to the role by a unanimous decision of the 27 EU leaders.

She said: "It is a challenge. I was the first female UK commissioner, first female trade commissioner and now first female high representative."

Mr van Rompuy told the press conference – in three languages – that Europe was a gathering of different nations and cultures, which should be respected.

He promised: "As president I will listen carefully to everyone."

In a dig at those who backed Mr Blair as a more instantly-recognisable political face on the world stage, Mr van Rompuy went on: "The key things are dialogue, unity and action: the image of the council resides in strength through results."

Liberal Democrat Shadow foreign secretary Edward Davey said:"These appointments give the 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."

But UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage said: "The EU has this evening appointed two political pygmies."

HIGH OFFICE

CATHERINE Ashton, 53, is not a well-known political figure – even at home in the UK. She trained as an economist, worked for several charities dealing with equality issues and for a health authority before she was anointed Baroness Ashton of Upholland in 1999.

She became a junior minister and leader of the House of Lords in 2007.

In a surprise move last year, she replaced former British spin doctor Peter Mandelson as the European Union's trade commissioner.