President Sarkozy of France seems to be managing the difficult feat of being both a friend of Tony Blair and a friend of Gordon Brown.

Now the occasion of his state visit to Britain has manouevred Brown into backing Blair. Sarkozy has long been the chief sponsor of the idea that Blair should become the first President of the European Council once the current treaty is ratified.

Blair is ready to take the job "like a shot" but he needs the sponsorship of as many current EU Presidents and Prime Ministers as possible. Now he's got the backing of his old rival. Inevitably Brown was asked if he'd back President Blair in the interview he granted to the French newspaper Le Monde to mark the Sarkozy visit. "Yes absolutely" he replied.

Chalk one up for Tony, who may also see his old amigo Silvio Berlusconi returned to power next month in the Italian elections. But just supposing David Cameron looks like becoming the next British Prime Minister when the decision has to be taken. Would he too give his blessing to Prime Minister Blair?

PS. Interestingly Number 10 did not mention the Blair endorsement when offering a rundown of the interview in Le Monde.

Comments

[Chris, Malaga 29 Mar 2008 14:00:31]

Of course Brown is endorsing the war-monger as EU President. What better way of revenge against the British public for voting him out of office?? In much the same way as his practice of a "scorched earth" policy with the countrys' finances. Once this insidious man (I use the term, man, loosely) is departed, the only "vision" he sees is one of discomfort for the in-coming administration. Prudent?? Don't make me laugh.

[Stephen Williams 28 Mar 2008 11:13:19]

The Morning Mail,

My posting was directed at Effie not you.

So I suppose that Gordon Brown is loved & admired by all Labour party members? yeh right!

It's hardly breaking news that David Cameron isn't all Tory party member’s cup of tea as you only have to read madnurses’s blog to know that but the bottom line is that we want Labour out so it's a case of the rough with the smooth to get shot of the useless government.

Call it voting with the bigger picture in mind.

[Elizabeth Davies Cape Town 28 Mar 2008 10:14:46]

Victor
The answer to your question ..will Blair hold down all the jobs he has acquired, yes absolutely! Otherwise his standard of living would have to drop, what a shame!
What a "dolly mixture" those jobs are, he has his fingers in all the pies at once..finance, church, foreign affairs, education, business.
Blair... Master of the Universe.

[Bruce Hulmes 28 Mar 2008 09:58:57]

Alam Mcpartland.
So correct, I am amazed we have not all taken Blairs achievememts on board also.
And he is also a fantastic husband and father, he as ensured by his hard work that none of his children will ever want for somewhere to live as he has enough homes for them all know, that must be hes contribution to reducing the numbers of homeless. And his son all on his own as managed to get to a top flight university in America.Remember Blairs first speach on gaining power (most people have forgotten)he wanted to see a country where people advanced on merit not on who your father is or was, so this liar is made for the EU and the EU is made for thios Liar, it is just a shame that we mortals suffer to feed these people ego's who's ambitions are greater then their abilities.

[Elizabeth Davies Cape Town 28 Mar 2008 09:56:51]

Alan McPartland
What insight..great posting.
Yes when Blair gets hold of the reigns of Europe things will change fast.
Britain will become a small insignificant island to the west of Europe, where Blair will still rule from afar.

[Merv. Beszant, Dubai 28 Mar 2008 09:30:30]

T.J.,
You're absolutely right, and I need to think more positively!
I haven't played chess for many years, but I was always a very poor player, hence my thinking of being captured as opposed to capturing others!

[The Morning Mail 27 Mar 2008 20:48:33]

In reply to Stephen Williams I also read blogs in the Telegraph and other quality journals and note that Cammers is treated with contempt and regarded as a joke even amongst Conservative supporters.

I reckon you will be eating your words a year from now. A week is a long time in politics and it looks increasingly likely that Britain will avoid a recession. Remember recessions, they happened when the Cons were in power.

[keith in croydon 27 Mar 2008 19:15:26]

england run by blair and brown god help us wheres my passport

[T.J. from Ireland 27 Mar 2008 18:56:47]

Posted by: Merv. Beszant, Dubai 27 Mar 2008 17:43:49
T.J.,
I'm sure that Sun Tzu meant well, but normally when your enemy is closer than your friend, it means that you have just been captured.

Or 'visa versa'. I take it you play chess? (P.S. I'm trying this one out, as I keep getting moderated)

[alan mcpartland 27 Mar 2008 18:56:17]

I think Blair deserves to be Emperor of Europe. After all he is a man of great vision. Just look at how Iraq is now a symbol in the Middle East of stable democracy. Just look at it's happy citizens, Sunni and Shia alike going about their daily work without hindrance and in a spirit of fellowship. How peaceful a republic Iraq now is, surely a model which can be spread throughout the Middle East. Just look at the low price of oil, the happiness in Iran which is now well loved in the West, the security and stability of the region. Just look at how Israelis and Palestinians are living in perfect harmony just as Blair promised five years ago. Hezbollah has now turned it's guns into roses and ploughshares and Israel has abolished conscription. All due to the foresight of a visionary man thay did not believe. Emperor Blair, for your very great wisdom and prescience arise Oh Great One.

[Victor, NW Kent 27 Mar 2008 17:54:46]

Just a thought - if Blair becomes the EU President will he still be able to be the Special Peace Envoy to the Middle East, run his new Faith Academy, lecture at Yale and hold down those well-paid sinecures with banks?

[Merv. Beszant, Dubai 27 Mar 2008 17:43:49]

T.J.,
I'm sure that Sun Tzu meant well, but normally when your enemy is closer than your friend, it means that you have just been captured!

[T.J. from Ireland 27 Mar 2008 16:37:05]

Sun Tzu, a great Chinese General and Strategist, once stated “Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer”
And he once described that ‘Military Operations’ involve deception. Even when you’re competent, appear to be incompetent. And though you may be effective, appear to be ineffective.
So there you have it folks, ALL these politicians are REALLY Master Strategists, and they’ve had us fooled all along.

[Bruce Hulmes 27 Mar 2008 14:01:07]

They do Blair a favour then Blair does them a favour and corruption and the abuse of this country continues,is that what politics is all about greed and vanities...yes those who think otherwise are sheep..no sheep run when they see a wolf ...English voters just sit there.

[Khalid 27 Mar 2008 12:12:01]

Now that he is a man of the cloth, I suppose hell declare himself as the [Father Figure], unless of course [George Michael] has anything to do with it.

[alan mcpartland 27 Mar 2008 12:04:09]

Is it not interesting that the three leaders in Europe, most popular with New Labour, have all been right wing, laissez faire capitalists. I refer of course to Berlusconi, Aznar and now Sarkozy. It tells us much abour New Labour's "socialism" or perhaps more about the conservatism of the trade unions and the labour movement in general. Interesting also that these three it seems, fancy themselves as playboys of sorts and of course, have great personal wealth. All things which are important to New Labour. Monsieur Tea Kozy is perahps the biggest clown of the three; the French people deserve him, having been naive enough to be conned by him at the last election. I absolutely guarantee he will bring ruin and perhaps crowds on to the streets of Paris before he leaves office. He is without doubt the biggest boost the French left has had in decades.

[Elizabeth Davies Cape Town 27 Mar 2008 11:17:36]

Peter Fife
Whatever you may think, I am sure Cherie Blair will have her say about her close ex-neighbour. Downing Street is probably no different to Coronation Street when it comes to gossip.
I am no fan of Cherie, but she will have the last laugh I suppose as Empress of Europe.

[Peter, Fife 27 Mar 2008 10:39:52]

Elizabeth Davies Cape Town

“..."a gag will be found for Mrs Blair" unlikely...probably more like a nail for Mr Brown's coffin!...”

You clearly display your lack of understanding of British politics and Mrs Blair’s failed clamour for celebrity which caused her to go in the huff in the first place.

[Stephen Williams 27 Mar 2008 10:37:19]

Effie,

The last part of your posting really smacks of desperation.

You are saying that Labour will only win on default because they don't trust the Tories enough to be put back into power yet & so will put up with Labour again as 'a better the devil you know' scenario as opposed to actually wanting Labour to remain in office, again it smacks of negative desperation.

Yes, I agree that people do have long memories & some will never forgive the Tories for the 2 recessions & Black Wednesday but come the next general election the most recent memories in people's minds will be what Labour have done to wreck this once great country.

The recent blogs on the Times newspaper’s web site really opened my eyes to the depth of how much Labour are really hated & despised, it reminded me of a throw back to prior to the 1997 general election, yes I know it’s a Tory supporting paper but the avalanche of comments from people saying that they have always voted Labour or had previously voted Labour but will never vote for them again simply astounded me. I obviously know Labour are hated greatly but there were numerous people simply saying they would vote Tory just to get rid of Labour, one person in particular had never voted Tory in his entire life as he had voted Labour for 50 years but he said to get rid of Labour he would vote Tory, when you lose supporters like that who had always voted for you it really tells a story.

Another chap who lives in Leeds which is what you would regard as Labour heartlands territory said much the same thing as he had always voted Labour along with his friends but now he & his friends after much discussion would vote Tory in all elections in the future.

The Labour vote is quite simply collapsing around their ears, so Effie, as much as people have long memories of the last Tory government, Labour are losing their long time standing support in the areas were they will rely on votes for the future.

[Peter, Fife 27 Mar 2008 10:36:05]

Stephen Williams,

More or less, it's called politics; it has worked for the Conservative Party for years, I see no reason why this cannot be a ‘read over’ for Labour; David Cameron has struggled like all other Conservative Leaders since the early 1970s to keep this under wraps:

Modernisation of the Conservative Party was the only way forward, Conservatives 100% in favour.

Poor show for David Cameron in the summer of 2007 brought calls for him to be replaced.

Modernisation of the Conservative Party abandoned at Blackpool 2007; the old tax promises return as we witness the old right of the party moved into positions of power and influence; Conservatives in favour 100%.

How do you present a bipolar party as unified?
Virtually plastering over the cracks and continue switching between your two identities to select the one most suitable for the moment.

[Stephen Williams 27 Mar 2008 09:41:12]

Peter,

So what you are really suggesting is a full uniformed show of unity for appearances sake only prior to the next general election & then if Labour do manage to hang on to power, then the bitching will start up again once Labour know they have a full 5 year term to hang on to.

[Fluffy, London, England 27 Mar 2008 09:30:29]

"Peter Mandlesonn was not called the prince of darkness for nothing, both these men will make sure Cameron does not win the next GE for no other reason than their own future."

Posted by: Effie 26 Mar 2008 18:51:55

Even better idea Effie - hope your well - would be to appoint Mandi as ambassador to Zimbabwe. Then Labour can finalize their election-rigging tactics courtesy of their idol - Prez. Mugabe.

[Fluffy, London, England 27 Mar 2008 09:26:50]

A leader who ran-away from a popular-vote, forced through legislation that had been promised would only be approved by a popular-vote, anoints a failed Caledonian lawyer as EU Prez (which does not have to have a popular-vote). So much for democracy...!

[Elizabeth Davies Cape Town 27 Mar 2008 08:59:45]

Peter Fife
"a gag will be found for Mrs Blair" unlikely...probably more like a nail for Mr Brown's coffin!

[Peter, Fife 27 Mar 2008 08:08:23]

Adam,

If I was to be brutally honest only Tony Blair and Gordon Brown know what has passed between them, the rest is merely journalistic guesswork joining up the snippets of information supplied by both the Blair and Brown camps; of course we this information must be one hundred percent accurate as we do not expect politicians to apply favourable bias to any message they deliver, do we?

Irrespective of the bad blood that exists between Blair and Brown I would expect to see several things come to pass:
• Labour MPs’ support for Tony Blair’s EU posting will appear 100%.
• Anti Brown MPs in the Commons, we will see these detractors withdraw to the shadows as an election approaches
• Labour MPs’ support for Gordon Brown will appear 100%.
• A niche will be found for Peter Mandelson.
• A gag will be found for Mrs Blair; or possibility First Lady of Europe will be gag enough.

“...just supposing David Cameron looks like becoming the next British Prime Minister when the decision has to be taken. Would he too give his blessing to Prime Minister Blair?...”

Adam, the answer should be readily available to you, why don’t you ask David Cameron?

[John (Northumberland) 26 Mar 2008 20:07:14]

Why shouldn't Brown back Blair for EU President? There has been a lot of water under the bridge since TB and GB have moved on to other things.
Pray do tell what you know that we don't know... lol?

Posted by: carol-ann liverpool 26 Mar 2008 19:33:34

Blair President of EU & Brown UK PM. lol? LOL!!!!!

Laughing matter for public sector bureaucrats and workless benefit claimants only.

Alas, no laughs for those of us who have to pay for the whole wheeze!

[carol-ann liverpool 26 Mar 2008 19:33:34]

Why shouldn't Brown back Blair for EU President? There has been a lot of water under the bridge since TB and GB have moved on to other things.
Pray do tell what you know that we don't know... lol?

[Elizabeth Davies Cape Town 26 Mar 2008 19:23:17]

Keep your eyes open folks in those top London resturants for Blair and Brown doing the deals. Nothing changes!

[T. England 26 Mar 2008 19:15:58]

So McBottler who is unelected by the British people himself, is going to support Tony B to become president of a union that is also unelected by the British people! Isn’t that cosy?
The predicable flow of un-needed MPs finding work in the un-needed EU isn’t going to stop any time soon, so we best get used to seeing many more jobs for the boys becoming available in the EU as more un-needed MPs need jobs!

[John (Northumberland) 26 Mar 2008 18:59:18]

Vote Brown & get Blair. (Is it just me who sees the irony?)

Vote Cameron and avoid both!

I can see the billboards now...

[Effie 26 Mar 2008 18:51:55]

Are you half asleep Adam?

Of course Brown will back Blair and he will also back Mandlesonn.
With Tony Blair and Peter Mandlesonn alongside he will use them both to help in the next GE.
Peter Mandlesonn was not called the prince of darkness for nothing, both these men will make sure Cameron does not win the next GE for no other reason than their own future.
Have you seen the mountain Cameron has to climb to win a GE?
There are still far too many people in this country with long memories when it comes to the Tories.
People do not forget easily.