Blair as President? Don't make me laugh |

Thursday 19th November 2009 | 14:40

Blair as President? Don't make me laugh

How would MPs and other political insiders feel if tomorrow they woke up to find Tony Blair as EU President? Amused (in the case of a quarter of Conservatives) secretly delighted.

Imagine it. You wake up tomorrow, it's Friday, the storms have passed, the weekend is stretching ahead of you. You glance at your morning newspaper and there it is: the face, smiling ear to ear, of Tony Blair, the surprise consensus candidate for EU President after marathon negotiations that lasted all night and France and Germany overplayed their hand.

How would you feel?

We asked this question to the Phi100 panel of MPs, peers, journalists, think tank leaders, academics and strategists from all parties, with a list of options. The most popular answer, by far, was 'amused.'

38% said they would be amused if Blair gets the job. ‘Hopeful’ and ‘secretly delighted’ were the next most-chosen, with 18% selecting them. Next came ‘angry’, on 17%.

Significantly, almost a quarter of Conservative insiders admitted they would be 'secretly delighted'. The strongest feeling from left-aligned insiders was 'hopeful', at 38%.

"I'll be baffled"

A right-aligned thought leader said, “Secretly delighted – as an ardent Tory, I miss him!”

A left-aligned strategist said, “I’ll be baffled, how could they elect a man who has done so much to divide Europe?

A jounalist said, “I’ll feel proud, happy, hopeful…and vindicated.”

A left-aligned think tank leader said “I’ll be interested to see what he does.”

A right-aligned panellist said “I would be amazed at his political resilience; amused at Gordon Brown's face when he realises, and concerned about what that says about how the EU sees its position in the world.”

Leave a comment...

WheresMyVote

16:37 |
19 Nov 2009
Recommended
6

There would be no faster way of getting the UK out of the EU than to appoint the liar as President of the council. It would be a perfect demonstration that Europe exists solely to serve the interests of an elite few and has no interest at all in the views of the general population.

Anna

16:38 |
19 Nov 2009
Recommended
2

What's the name of the journalist?

alan

16:50 |
19 Nov 2009
Recommended
9

We have been a poorer place without the honest and delightful approach of this ordinary kind of a guy. He would make as honest and delightful President of the EUSSR as Stalin was to his beloved people. We would awake each morning glorying in the fact that here was one of us, A honest and delightful Scotsman, schooled in one of the best private school. A man who climed up the greasy pole the hard way, sharing those difficult times with Mandy and the ever loyal Gordon, as well as his beautiful and charming child bride, the ever so delightful Cheri Amore!

What a chance for us to put out all the flags and bunting. Christmas would arrived early for our beleaguered Isles. What a sing song what a party.

THANK THE LORD IT WILL NOT HAPPEN.

A Funny Guy

17:27 |
19 Nov 2009
Recommended
1

EUSSR I see what you've done there, it's very amusing. Slightly falls down with not all the countries in the EU being republics, or socialist or Soviet.

David

22:00 |
19 Nov 2009
Recommended
1

I am pleased he is NOT to the EU President. He has done enough hurtto Europe and the World. No doubt all 27 reps had a good time and meal, paid for by the taxpayers. Why could it not have been held by the people of Europeans at a Referendum? After all it is is the taxp. who will be paying their salaries (inflated as they will be plus their expenses) Why could the British not have had a Referendum on the LISBON Treaty?Why do we need a President of the EU.? What salary does the post have? Will we ever know the answers to the above questions?

dave wilson

12:40 |
20 Nov 2009
Recommended
1

Surely the only people who could want Blair for EU President are those who have been given a moral by-pass. The man is a mass murderer, a war criminal, who lied to Parliament and the people of this country. The debate should be about how we bring him to trial - not his status as a 'statesman'.

A J Scott

19:09 |
20 Nov 2009
0

Pity it didn't happen, if only for the lovely thought of G Brown "welcoming" him on his first official visit to London -?in the Queen's Processional Carriage for State Occasions!!

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