Tony Blair is a leading contender to become the first president of the EU and has the full backing of the British government for the job, the new Europe minister, Lady Kinnock, announced today.
In 10 years as prime minister, Blair shunned the single currency, backed Bush over Brussels and went to war in Iraq. Many in Europe have never forgiven him.
But the long-held suspicion in European politics was confirmed when Lady Kinnock, the Europe minister in Strasbourg for the parliament's opening session, said that although Blair had not formally declared his candidacy, it was "certainly" the government position to support him.
"I am sure they would not do it without asking him," she said. "The UK government is supporting Tony Blair's candidature for president of the council."