Has Blair asked himself if this job is really for him? (Southend Liberal Democrats)

Southend Liberal Democrats <info@southendlibdems.co.uk>

Has Blair asked himself if this job is really for him?

November 12, 2009 2:00 PM
By Andrew Duff MEP in FT
Originally published by Andrew Duff MEP

Sir, Conservative opposition to Tony Blair as a future president of the European Council is indeed perceived by many as an act of petty spite rather than political principle ("Europe does not need a big shot", Gideon Rachman, October 27). But Mr Blair has long enjoyed the luck of the devil, and he may yet benefit from having the worst of friends and the best of enemies.

Silvio Berlusconi is a leader mired in sleaze but his endorsement nonetheless lines up a big member state behind the former British prime minister. Meanwhile, the Tories' warning that they would regard a Blair presidency as a "hostile gesture" may only make that outcome more likely. Centrist European leaders do not take kindly to militant rhetoric from foot-stamping Eurosceptics: they might now be tempted to deliver one in the eye to Messrs Cameron and Hague.

Aside from the gamesmanship, I hope Mr Blair has really thought through whether this job is for him. The "President of Europe" label is really a misnomer. Yes, there will be some glitz, glamour and globe-trotting, but the Council presidency will first and foremost require a behind-the-scenes consensus-builder who can broker compromises between a varied cast of European leaders with competing interests. That is not something Mr Blair has ever shown much interest in. He must ask himself whether his CV really answers the job spec.

Andrew Duff,

Liberal Democrat Spokesman on Constitutional Affairs,

European Parliament