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Tony Blair will be the UK's official candidate for EU president, Baroness Kinnock has apparently confirmed. The post will only be created if the Lisbon Treaty is ratified by all EU states - Ireland is to hold a second referendum in October. There has long been speculation that the former PM would go for the post but he has not confirmed he will do so. It is the first time a UK government minister has publicly announced Tony Blair is a candidate for the job. Previously, ministers have said it was premature to talk of supporting any particular candidate when the job itself did not exist.
'Strength of character'
But at a briefing in Strasbourg, Europe Minister Lady Kinnock said: "The UK government is supporting Tony Blair's candidature for president of the Council [of EU governments]." Asked if it had been discussed with Mr Blair, currently a Middle East envoy, she said: "It is the government's position. I am sure they would not do that without asking him." Lady Kinnock went on to say Mr Blair had the "strength of character" and "status" to take on the job.
Another great example of the link between the Labour Party and the European Union, also known as 'jobs for the boys'. Tony Blair helped the Kinnocks' get on to the European Union gravy train and now they are helping Tony Blair get on to it. Hopefully the governments of Europe will oppose this as they all opposed the illegal invasion of Iraq.
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"Any holder is likely to try to centralise power for themselves in Brussels and dominate national foreign policies. In the hands of an operator as ambitious as Tony Blair, that is a near certainty. He should be let nowhere near the job." - William Hague, former Conservative leader & Shadow Foreign Secretary
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"He is intelligent, he is brave and he is a friend. We need him in Europe. How can we govern a continent of 450 million people if the President changes every six months and has to run his own country at the same time?" - President Nicholas Sarkozy
The answer is Mr Sarkozy,