For God’s sake, don’t give Tone the power. I’m sure that the people are fed up with this man already. Do we really have to be subjected to another term (or perhaps two?) of this man ruling over us? And in any case, where’s the democracy in all of this? If there really is to be a president of Europe, a position many people would dispute should ever come about, then we, the people, should be given a vote on who should fill that position. After all, Europe is supposed to be a democracy, isn’t it? Europe is not supposed to be a cronyocracy.
THE GUARDIAN: Former PM consults old Downing Street allies on campaign for new EU roleMark Alexander (Paperback)
Tony Blair has been holding discussions with some of his oldest allies on how he could mount a campaign later this year to become full-time president of the EU council, the prestigious new job characterised as "president of Europe". Blair, currently the Middle East envoy for the US, Russia, EU and the UN, has told friends he has made no final decision, but is increasingly willing to put himself forward for the job if it comes with real powers to intervene in defence and trade affairs.
Blair, who is being actively promoted by the French president Nicolas Sarkozy, recognises he would need to abandon his well-paid, private sector jobs if he won. His wife Cherie - often portrayed as seeking ever more wealth and well-paid consultancies for her husband - is understood to be supportive of him accepting the job.
Some Blair allies also say that he now recognises that as envoy in the Middle East he is not going to be allowed to become the key player in furthering Israeli-Palestinian talks this year, and will be reduced to a role of supporting political development in Palestine and boosting its economy.
The president of the European council of ministers is a post created under the Lisbon treaty. The president will be the permanent chair of the council of ministers, Europe's chief decision-making body.
Jonathan Powell, Blair's Downing Street chief of staff, is among the former lieutenants he has met to discuss a bid for the European role. I'll be president of Europe if you give me the power – Blair >>> By Patrick Wintour, political editor
Mark Alexander (Hardback)
