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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Labour peer gets EU foreign job | Labour peer gets EU foreign job |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Labour peer Baroness Ashton has been selected as the EU's high representative of foreign affairs and security. | |
| Baroness Ashton, currently EU Trade Commissioner, was chosen for the new post by the leaders of the EU's 27 member states at a meeting in Brussels. | Baroness Ashton, currently EU Trade Commissioner, was chosen for the new post by the leaders of the EU's 27 member states at a meeting in Brussels. |
| Gordon Brown backed her for the role after accepting Tony Blair could not become European Council president. | Gordon Brown backed her for the role after accepting Tony Blair could not become European Council president. |
| Before going to Brussels last year, she was leader of the House of Lords. | Before going to Brussels last year, she was leader of the House of Lords. |
| 'Little-known figure' | 'Little-known figure' |
| Baroness Ashton, 53, emerged as a surprise candidate for the new role - dubbed Europe's first foreign minister - on Thursday. | Baroness Ashton, 53, emerged as a surprise candidate for the new role - dubbed Europe's first foreign minister - on Thursday. |
| EU leaders are also set to announce that Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy is to become the president of the EU Council - the job for which Mr Blair was a prime candidate. | EU leaders are also set to announce that Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy is to become the president of the EU Council - the job for which Mr Blair was a prime candidate. |
| The BBC's Dominic Hughes said there had been unanimous backing for Baroness Ashton once her name was put forward for the role by the UK. | The BBC's Dominic Hughes said there had been unanimous backing for Baroness Ashton once her name was put forward for the role by the UK. |
| Earlier, No 10 said it did not expect any "obstacles" to her appointment. | Earlier, No 10 said it did not expect any "obstacles" to her appointment. |
| With Mr Van Rompuy representing the centre-right Christian Democrat bloc, EU leaders are thought to have wanted to give the foreign affairs portfolio to a centre-left politician as a counter-balance. | With Mr Van Rompuy representing the centre-right Christian Democrat bloc, EU leaders are thought to have wanted to give the foreign affairs portfolio to a centre-left politician as a counter-balance. |
| Baroness Ashton was a government minister for eight years before being chosen to replace Lord Mandelson as EU Trade Commissioner in 2008. | Baroness Ashton was a government minister for eight years before being chosen to replace Lord Mandelson as EU Trade Commissioner in 2008. |
| She is not a well-known figure in British politics but has been commended for the job she has done in her current role. | She is not a well-known figure in British politics but has been commended for the job she has done in her current role. |
| British Foreign Secretary David Miliband was heavily linked to the role of foreign affairs chief, created under the terms of the Lisbon Treaty. | British Foreign Secretary David Miliband was heavily linked to the role of foreign affairs chief, created under the terms of the Lisbon Treaty. |
| However, he said he wanted to stay in British politics. | However, he said he wanted to stay in British politics. |