Tony Blair will win the backing of Gordon Brown if he attempts to become the president of the European Council, it emerged yesterday.
Downing Street insiders denied suggestions that Mr Brown was actively urging Mr Blair to throw his hat into the ring as soon as possible. But they said that Mr Brown would be happy to have Mr Blair in charge at the top European table.
Mr Blair, The Times has been told, is waiting to see whether the new post, created by the Lisbon reform treaty, lives up to the billing. There are doubts over whether the holder of the job would be seen as the undisputed, most senior political figure in Europe, someone who would not be vying for that position with the president of the European Commission.
Sources said that Mr Blair was flattered that his name was among those being considered and was grateful for the backing of Nicolas Sarkozy, the French President. They added that he was some way from a decision, that he was consumed by his job as envoy to the Middle East and that the idea that he had a campaign team in place was ludicrous.
Although Mr Blair is the most prominent figure being suggested for the job, he faces strong opposition on the Continent because of the war in Iraq and his failure to take Britain into the euro or the common police and justice policy. Despite his pro-European credentials he did not use his office to take Britain closer to the heart of Europe, his detractors say.
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There is speculation that Mr Blair might find an unexpected rival for the post in Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, who could become a candidate if she loses an election next year. Jos? Manuel Barroso, President of the Commission, is being mentioned as another who might be interested if he felt the job was bigger than his own.
Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrat leader and a former member of the European Parliament, said: “Tony Blair’s candidacy for the post is a display of political vanity and will not succeed. His foreign policy ended in disaster in Iraq, he divided Europe and wrenched Britain away from key allies. The EU presidency will not be powerful but it will require a figure who can lead by consensus, not division.
“Gordon Brown should recognise that talk of President Blair is an embarrassing distraction for Britain in Europe and refuse to support him.”
Denis MacShane, a Labour MP and former Europe Minister, told the Today programme on BBC Radio 4: “I think he [Mr Blair] has been one of the biggest national leaders Europe has had in the last generation . . . from a British point of view it’s always good to have a Brit in a top job.”
Harriet Harman, Leader of the Commons, said that it was always good for Britain and Europe when a leading British politician played a leading role in the EU.
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Sir Malcolm Rifkind, the Conservative MP and former Foreign Secretary, said: “He wants to be leader of Europe but he was more responsible than anybody for dividing Europe over the Iraq war.”
“I would be astonished if the rest of Europe sees him as their natural spokesman.”
To become president Mr Blair would need the backing of every EU Government, each of which has a veto on selection. Under the terms of the Lisbon treaty a politician would be chosen to be president of the European Council for two years instead of the current six-month term.