Blair's own Waterloo as presidential campaign begins to falter

[-:Undertaker:-]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...n-Germany.html

Tony Blair's hopes of becoming President of Europe were dealt a fresh and possibly devastating blow today as the French leader signalled he would not back him. Nicolas Sarkozy, who was initially one of Mr Blair's most vocal supporters, declared that there would be a joint Franco-German candidate for the post. And he warned: 'The first names to come out of the hat are not the ones that are finally chosen.'

This appeared to be a clear reference to Mr Blair, who was at first seen as the hot favourite to land the plum £275,000-a-year post. The French President's comments came as Gordon Brown reiterated his backing for his predecessor, and David Miliband ruled out becoming EU high representative - a role that will also be created once the Lisbon Treaty is ratified.

The Foreign Secretary moved to quash mounting speculation that he was being lined up for the post, repeating that he was not available.
'I am not a candidate. I am not available. I am proud to be Foreign Secretary in Gordon's Government and that's what I am determined to do,' he said. His insistence came amid growing support in Europe, with France's most respected newspaper Le Monde yesterday lavishing him with praise.
It described him as 'young and brilliant', hailing his pro-Europe speech this week in which he insisted the EU needed a global presence alongside China and the U.S.

EU leaders agreed a Czech opt out to the European Charter of Human Rights last night, which means the Lisbon Treaty is one step closer to being ratified. The only remaining frontier is a ruling from the Czech Constitutional Court, which will meet next week to decide if it can accept the controversial document. Czech president Vaclav Klaus is expected to ratify it once that decision is passed down, as long as it concludes there is no reason to block it.

I'm quite sad, because while I do not want a President of Europe, nevermind a European Union I want Tony Blair to get the job, because theres no one more suitable to ruining something and turning the people against it, and with President Blair ruling it down on the British people I don't think they will like it very much, neither will the rest of Europe who detest the man for the Iraq War.

The President role is formed from the Lisbon Treaty, which lays the foundations for the European Union to become a superstate, meaning that essentially in my eyes and the eyes of many, the United Kingdom now becomes a 'satelitte' state under the banner of the European Union. 84% of our laws are made in the European Union by unelected officals, and the Presidential role will not be elected either.

The Labour Party did promise in their 2005 manifesto to give the people a referendum on whether or not we wanted the Lisbon Treaty, however they backtracked on this promise. The only other country to recieve a vote was the Republic of Ireland (because their constitutional legally says they have to) and they voted no the first time and yes the second time - because the EU can't accept the word no.

If you want a short summary on what the Lisbon Treaty basically does, then look here for a short explanation by a Irish MEP.

Do you think the British people should get a say on the Lisbon Treaty? (which creates the post of President of Europe)

[BlueTango]

I voted no, but only because I'd of rather of selected a 'not sure' option

In some ways I think it would be a good thing if Tony Blair got the job - having a brit in the position would certainly work in our favour. But at the same time I'm not a big fan of the EU

The idea of the EU having a president and becoming a bit of a superstate is good, but at the same time I worry that it will overshadow individual countries in the group and put a leash on our ability to have freedom as a country.

[Alkaz]

I hate the fact we are apart of the EU. We need to stay on our own or we wont be 'Great' no more.

[GommeInc]

I voted yes. A nation is built out of citizens. Without citizens, a nation would not exist. It would be a government ruling nothing. As a nation, everyone should be entitled to their opinion on anything that would effect the workings of, and the running of that nation - much like General and Local Elections, the EU vote is no different and neither are these treaties - treaties throughout the years are created for the citizens and usually by the citizens if interests and so forth are wavering e.g. that treaty which seperate Monaco from France and Italy to make it ahve its own Sovereign State and the Hong Kong treaty which seperated Hong Kong from the British Empire.

So yes, we should be entitled to vote or have a say on the Lisbon Treaty, it effects us. We cannot be chucked to one side by our public servants who think they know best, they are elected to serve, not over-rule :/

Democracy and all that jazz afterall.

[-:Undertaker:-]

I hate the fact we are apart of the EU. We need to stay on our own or we wont be 'Great' no more.

I hate the European Union aswell, its the issue of all our problems as it makes 84% of all our laws - nothing can be done in this country without leaving the European Union, its like back in the 1970s when Thatcher traced all the problems of the country back to one thing, the Unions. This time its the European Union.

While I don't want the EU and we should get a say on our membership of that aswell, I think we should at least get a say on the Lisbon Treaty which forms the foundations of a superstate, because we all know if the British people and people of other nations across Europe were given a say on the Lisbon Treaty or even the EU itself, the EU would end overnight.

[BlueTango]

The EU - however many bad things it has caused for us - is also the cause of some great things in this country. For example, without the EU our minimum wage would be much lower than it is now.

I don't mind us being in the EU - the only bad thing is that we're forced to allow citizens from other EU countries into ours.

[-:Undertaker:-]

The EU - however many bad things it has caused for us - is also the cause of some great things in this country. For example, without the EU our minimum wage would be much lower than it is now.

I don't mind us being in the EU - the only bad thing is that we're forced to allow citizens from other EU countries into ours.

That was the Labour Party as far as I know which introduced that act, and even if it was the European Union - since when were we unable to make decisions for ourselves?. We pay billions into the European Union, it isn't elected, it isn't wanted and it hates us. Germany and France are the big players, Europe cannot stand the United Kingdom.

Napolean, Hitler and Stalin all tried to form a European state, we fought with millions of lives and now we're handing it to them on a silver plate. You can say its quite a stark constrat comparing evil states to the modern day EU, but thats what it is - something that makes 84% of our laws and is unelected and unwanted is a dictatorship.

[BlueTango]

It's all very well saying "The EU may have introduced that good thing to our country, but we'd of made that decision anyway" but you don't know that do you? The point is, however bad the EU may be (and it is pretty bad!) it has done some good.

I do agree that the so many million we pay everyday to be in the EU would be better-spent elsewhere though

[-:Undertaker:-]

It's all very well saying "The EU may have introduced that good thing to our country, but we'd of made that decision anyway" but you don't know that do you? The point is, however bad the EU may be (and it is pretty bad!) it has done some good.

I do agree that the so many million we pay everyday to be in the EU would be better-spent elsewhere though

I said before, I am sure that was the Labour Party and not the European Union which introduced that policy. Infact I have just checked that out and it was the Labour Party which introduced the minimum wage in 1999 and had nothing to do with the European Union.

[BlueTango]

Ok, my bad - maybe it was the government. But the fact that a lot of the other countries in the EU were putting their wages up at the time probably contributed

Apologies about that, but I'm sure there are plenty of other good things that the EU has brung to this country - such as trade relations.