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PoliticsHome | Only the latest five entries on the PhiWire are visible to non-subscribers
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PoliticsHome | Only the latest five entries on the PhiWire are visible to non-subscribers
PoliticsHome | Only the latest five entries on the PhiWire are visible to non-subscribers
PoliticsHome | Only the latest five entries on the PhiWire are visible to non-subscribers
PoliticsHome | Only the latest five entries on the PhiWire are visible to non-subscribers
PoliticsHome | Only the latest five entries on the PhiWire are visible to non-subscribers
PoliticsHome | Only the latest five entries on the PhiWire are visible to non-subscribers
PoliticsHome | Only the latest five entries on the PhiWire are visible to non-subscribers
PoliticsHome | Only the latest five entries on the PhiWire are visible to non-subscribers
PoliticsHome | Only the latest five entries on the PhiWire are visible to non-subscribers
PoliticsHome | Only the latest five entries on the PhiWire are visible to non-subscribers
PoliticsHome | Only the latest five entries on the PhiWire are visible to non-subscribers
PoliticsHome | Only the latest five entries on the PhiWire are visible to non-subscribers
PoliticsHome | Only the latest five entries on the PhiWire are visible to non-subscribers
PoliticsHome | Only the latest five entries on the PhiWire are visible to non-subscribers
PoliticsHome | Only the latest five entries on the PhiWire are visible to non-subscribers
PoliticsHome | Only the latest five entries on the PhiWire are visible to non-subscribers
PoliticsHome | Only the latest five entries on the PhiWire are visible to non-subscribers
PoliticsHome | Only the latest five entries on the PhiWire are visible to non-subscribers
Tuesday 27th October 2009 | 14:52
The possibility of Tony Blair becoming EU president has again hit the headlines this week as the Czech Republic appears to be getting nearer to signing the Lisbon Treaty.
Today Downing Street denied that Gordon Brown had asked officials to lobby for a Blair presidency, but Cabinet Ministers have recently been enthusiastically making his case in recent days. In contrast, the Conservative party have made it clear that they oppose the idea, with William Hague reportedly calling his European counterparts to lobby against the appointment.
According to PoliticsHome research, the view within Westminster is that it is acceptable for the government to back a possible Blair campaign, but that the Tories should think twice before actively lobbying against the appointment.
Today’s Phi100 survey of MPs, political journalists, strategists and think tank heads reveals that two thirds of insiders feel it is appropriate for the government to campaign for the person they see as the best candidate for Britain.
Whether or not Gordon Brown has asked officials to lobby for Tony Blair in Europe (denied this morning by Number 10), cabinet ministers are forcefully making the argument for a Blair presidency. Do you think it is appropriate for the government to campaign in this way?
This was the consensus view across the political spectrum, supported by majorities of left-leaning, Liberal Democrat, and non-aligned panellists as well as half of panellists on the right of the political spectrum.
In contrast, though, over half (fifty four per cent) think it is politically unwise for the Conservatives to lobby against Blair being given the job.
Right-leaning panellists are the only group who think that this is a wise thing to do. Solid majorities of left-leaning, Lib Dem and non-aligned panellists advise against it.
A left-leaning thought leader said of a campaign for Blair: ‘It's not just partisan, it's plain daft. The presidency of the European Council is a non-job, with no executive power. And it's plainly absurd for it to go to a national of a country which is outside the Euro and Schengen.’
A right-leaning strategist, however, commented: ‘Of course they [the government] support Blair. It would be naive to think they wouldn't.’
On the Conservatives’ stance, a right-leaning parliamentarian said: ‘He may get the job but they have a duty to oppose a candidate whom they think will be bad for Britain and the EU.’
However, a non-aligned media panellist said: ‘What the voters see is the Tories banging on about Europe - at a time when the economy is in terrible trouble and government borrowing is out of control.’
Summaries and transcripts from TV and radio
4 hours ago on Newsnight, BBC Two
16/05/2012 on BBC News
16/05/2012 on PM, BBC Radio 4
16/05/2012
John Halsall
The non-aligned media panellist is incorrect. The economy and borrowing are both a function of the behaviour of government, which is incapable of acting in any other way by the increasing democratic deficit. Government is increasingly disconnected with the electorate. There is currently no will to correct this; Labour genuinely believes that it knows better than the people. The Tories say that they wish to correct this. In order to do so they need to disconnect from the top down European bureaucracy.
It is my view that Europe and our democracy is a long term cancer which will, uncorrected, challenge any short term sticking plaster to the economy.
Irene
non-aligned media panellist - so wrong!!!!!!!!!! - you have no idea what the voters see.
christina speight
To the non-aligned media panellist - - They're not 'banging on about Europe'. The Europeans want a president - we don't ! They started the discussion and Blair is an insult to the British people and totally unacceptable.
Silent Hunter
Oh look!
The PH100 - or to give them their proper name -
The Labour biased WI of the Westminster Village, think it's OK to back the war criminal Tony Blair - who would have thought it LOL
ben
owned by lord ashcroft, that prominent communist party member who is blatantly not funding any particular party's election campaign.......
Weary Realist
Unpatriotic not to support a Brit who, for all his many faults, won three elections. The job is a platform which can be used to promote British interests. Those of you who want to leave the EU are a swivel-eyed bunch of fantasists; as long as the Tories are aligned with Britain's major companies, your views will never prevail, so just stop your whining nonsense and think about what can be done for the good of the country.