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No 10 Blair push 'is speculation' No 10 denies President Blair push
(about 1 hour later)
Reports that Gordon Brown is helping lobby for former PM Tony Blair to become European president are just speculation, says Downing Street. Downing Street has denied reports that Gordon Brown is helping lobby for Tony Blair to become European president.
The Guardian says Europe adviser John Cunliffe and EU ambassador Kim Darroch have been asked to take soundings. The ex-PM has not confirmed he wants the job, which will only exist when the EU Treaty is ratified by all 27 states.
Mr Blair has not confirmed he wants the job, which will only exist when the EU Treaty is ratified by all 27 states. Mr Brown's spokesman said officials had "not been asked to go and lobby for Tony Blair's candidacy".
The Czech Republic is the last to sign, its constitutional court is due to hear what could be its last legal challenge. Tory leader David Cameron opposes the treaty and the new post, but said: "We don't support Tony Blair in that role even if there is a president."
If the court rules the treaty is legal under Czech law, then pressure on President Vaclav Klaus to sign it will increase. The Czech Republic is the only EU member which has not signed up to the treaty.
Brussels summit Its constitutional court is due to rule whether the treaty is legal under Czech law. If it says it is, the pressure on President Vaclav Klaus to ratify it will increase.
There is some pressure on Mr Blair to confirm he is in the running for the newly created post of president of the European Council, amid apparent opposition to his candidacy among some smaller European states. 'Hypothetical'
BBC Europe correspondent Dominic Hughes said Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg were among smaller EU countries that believed the president should come from a country that uses the euro and is part of the border-free Schengen Agreement. The Guardian says the prime minister's Europe adviser, John Cunliffe, and the UK's EU ambassador, Kim Darroch, have been asked to take soundings on a Blair presidency.
But Mr Brown's spokesman said the issue was "hypothetical" because Mr Blair had not announced his candidacy.
The prime minister says he will back his predecessor if he puts himself forward.
EUROPEAN COUNCIL PRESIDENT Scope of role not yet strictly definedServes for two-and-a-half years, can be renewed onceElected by qualified majority by European CouncilChairs European CouncilRepresents EU internationally on common foreign, security policy Czech court to hear Lisbon caseEUROPEAN COUNCIL PRESIDENT Scope of role not yet strictly definedServes for two-and-a-half years, can be renewed onceElected by qualified majority by European CouncilChairs European CouncilRepresents EU internationally on common foreign, security policy Czech court to hear Lisbon case
Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi has backed Mr Blair but there are reports French President Nicolas Sarkozy is cooling on the idea and it is not known who German Chancellor Angela Merkel would support. There is some pressure on Mr Blair to confirm he is in the running for the newly created post of president of the European Council, amid opposition to his candidacy among some smaller European states.
Meanwhile the prime minister of Luxembourg Jean-Claude Juncker, also seen as a possible candidate for the post, has told French newspaper Le Monde: "If I were called upon, I would have no reason to refuse to hear, on condition that there are ambitious ideas for the post backing it up." Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg are reportedly among smaller countries that believe the president should come from a country that uses the euro and is part of the border-free Schengen Agreement.
At a press conference Conservative leader David Cameron again refused to say what his party would do in power, if the treaty is ratified. He said he would wait until that happened but added: "Maybe that time is coming closer, we will have to see." Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has backed Mr Blair, but there are reports French President Nicolas Sarkozy is cooling on the idea and it is not known who German Chancellor Angela Merkel would support.
Meanwhile the prime minister of Luxembourg, Jean-Claude Juncker, also seen as a possible candidate, has told French newspaper Le Monde: "If I were called upon, I would have no reason to refuse to hear, on condition that there are ambitious ideas for the post backing it up."
The Conservatives oppose the treaty, which establishes the role of president, and still hope it will not be ratified.
'Very clear'
At a press conference party leader David Cameron again refused to say what his party would do in power, if it was already in place.
He said he would wait until that happened but added: "Maybe that time is coming closer. We will have to see."
Asked if he had spoken to European leaders about his opposition to Mr Blair's candidacy, Mr Cameron said shadow foreign secretary William Hague had made the party's position "very clear".Asked if he had spoken to European leaders about his opposition to Mr Blair's candidacy, Mr Cameron said shadow foreign secretary William Hague had made the party's position "very clear".
"Everyone in Europe knows what we think about the role of president and about Tony Blair's candidature," he said."Everyone in Europe knows what we think about the role of president and about Tony Blair's candidature," he said.
Support for Blair is diminishing Charles GrantCentre for European Reform Miliband: Britain needs strong EU Berlusconi backs Blair for EU job
He said the new role would take Europe "too far in creating the emblems of statehood rather than being about co-operation and co-ordination".He said the new role would take Europe "too far in creating the emblems of statehood rather than being about co-operation and co-ordination".
But he said if there was to be a president he would prefer it to be a more "chairmanic" role "rather than some all-singing, all-dancing, all-acting president and I think I can see what sort of president Tony Blair would be".But he said if there was to be a president he would prefer it to be a more "chairmanic" role "rather than some all-singing, all-dancing, all-acting president and I think I can see what sort of president Tony Blair would be".
British ministers have been talking up Mr Blair's credentials over the last few days, ahead of a summit of European leaders in Brussels later this week. BBC Newsnight political editor Michael Crick said Mr Hague had told Berlin and Paris that the Tories would take Mr Blair's appointment as a "hostile act" against a future Conservative government.
Foreign Secretary David Miliband said on Monday: "This is a time when a strong European voice is more needed than ever, it's not a time for shy retiring violets... Europe needs a strong, persuasive, articulate advocate." British ministers have been talking up the former PM's credentials, ahead of a summit of European leaders in Brussels later this week.
'Plotting' Foreign Secretary David Miliband said: "It's not a time for shy retiring violets... Europe needs a strong, persuasive, articulate advocate."
And Europe Minister Chris Bryant told BBC2's Newsnight: "We need a far more effective Europe on a global stage and if you want that then you probably want somebody like Tony Blair because they would be able, quite simply, to be able to make a far more effective case around the world." But former foreign secretary Lord Owen said Mr Blair's handling of the Iraq war showed he was unfit for the job: "I believe that disqualification from high office follows if you do not tell the truth to the House of Commons on a very serious question like going to war."
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has only said he would back Mr Blair if he put himself forward for the role.
Asked about the Guardian's reports that he had asked senior civil servants to lobby behind the scenes for Mr Blair's candidacy, a Downing Street spokesman said that was just speculation.
Support for Blair is diminishing Charles GrantCentre for European Reform Miliband: Britain needs strong EU Berlusconi backs Blair for EU job
But the Conservatives, who have said they will hold a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty if they win power before it is ratified by all EU states, have been accused of "plotting" to undermine Mr Blair's chances of landing the job.
BBC Newsnight political editor Michael Crick said shadow foreign secretary William Hague had told Berlin and Paris that the Tories would take Blair's appointment as a hostile act against a future Conservative government.
Pro-European analyst Charles Grant told BBC 2's Newsnight: "The biggest problem is that the initiative by the Conservative Party to try and block his candidacy is making an impact."
He added: "That is making some other governments fearful of getting off on the wrong foot vis a vis an incoming Conservative government so support for Blair is diminishing."
'Wholly unsuitable'
Conservative Europe spokesman Mark Francois told the BBC he was concerned Mr Blair would not be best for the EU.
He said: "Tony Blair was forced out of office in this country by his own party, and now we have Labour politicians desperately running around saying he should get this job."
And opposition to Mr Blair as EU president is not confined to the Conservative Party.
Former foreign secretary Lord Owen said the ex-prime minister's handling of the Iraq war showed he was unfit for the job.
He told the BBC: "I believe that disqualification from high office follows if you do not tell the truth to the House of Commons on a very serious question like going to war."
And Labour former minister Peter Kilfoyle, who opposed the Iraq war, said Mr Blair would be "wholly unsuitable" for the job and has tabled a Commons motion calling for a full public debate "before the government contemplates embarking on such a recommendation".
BBC Europe editor Gavin Hewitt said European leaders were divided between those who want a charismatic figure to be the face of Europe internationally and those who wanted a more modest "business manager".