EU united for once, in opposition to president Blair

Published on Friday 20 November 2009 21:46

GORDON Brown's team had been working for weeks on a back-up plan in the likely event that Tony Blair was vetoed for the top job.

Baroness Ashton emerged as the British victor after 27 heads of government met over a meal to thrash out who would take two key European posts.

But the deal was sealed at the meeting of socialist leaders, attended by Mr Brown, shortly before the EU Council dinner.

And now critics say that it was a compromise arrangement stitched up with the French. In exchange, President Nicolas Sarkozy will see a French figure installed in a key economic position.

Former Cabinet minister Geoff Hoon had also been considered for the foreign policy role until the last minute, as had Lord Mandelson.

Mr Hoon had been touted to take over as EU Trade Commissioner after Lord Mandelson was hauled back to London to be ennobled so he could serve in the Cabinet.

Barely a year after he was pipped to the powerful trade post by Baroness Ashton, Mr Hoon was beaten to another lucrative role by her.

But while the left won the battle for the EU High Representative on Foreign Affairs and Security, it was the centre-right that won the war for the presidency.

For those on the right in Europe, a grand-standing presidential figure was unpalatable. Instead, a low-key "chairman", Herman Van Rompuy, was agreed upon.

Mr Blair was ruled out earlier this week and Number 10 had been told by diplomatic contacts that he was not in the running.

Mr Brown had made a failed pitch for Mr Blair three weeks ago, telling socialist leaders to "get real" and give the job to his predecessor.

But it was the socialists who gave Mr Brown the reality check, telling him Mr Blair's involvement in the Iraq war would rule him out.

On Wednesday, Swedish Prime Minister and temporary EU president Fredrik Reinfeldt had published a job description for his successor, tellingly describing the post as one of a "chairman".

One thing was clear. Mr Blair managed to unwittingly unite the EU – in opposition to his candidacy.