President Blair?

With Downing Street now openly lobbying for Tony Blair to become the first president of the European Union, a number of interesting questions are raised. Firstly, would this be a favourable development for the United Kingdom? Secondly, will the role be significant enough to satisfy the ambitious Blair?

Opposition to Mr Blair’s appointment is strong within the Conservative party, with William Hague openly stating that his appointment would be treated as a “hostile act”. Given that the upcoming General Election could see the Tories swept into power, it could push an already Euro sceptic party further away from the European inner circle.

Blair’s support for the Iraq war is also a sticking point for many EU leaders; Brown dismissed this as part of his lobbying campaign for Blair, "What are the issues we as Europe are doing to be discussing in the next few years? It's not Iraq," he said. He added: "it's jobs, it's growth, it's climate change, it's trade and how the European economy and society can move forward."

The role which has yet to be defined, will no doubt be given gravitas by appointing a relatively popular and well known figure in European politics, such as Blair. With Blair yet to formally throw his hat in the ring, it seems we may not have seen the last of the former PM.

UPDATE:

It appears Blair’s hopes for becoming Euro president are sinking fast, with both President Sarkozy and Chancellor Merkel not endorsing TB. Media chatter is now focusing on the possibility of David Milliband becoming the EU’s foreign policy chief.