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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Labour peer gets EU foreign job | Labour peer gets EU foreign job |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| EU leaders have picked Baroness Ashton to be the union's high representative of foreign affairs and security. | EU leaders have picked Baroness Ashton to be the union's high representative of foreign affairs and security. |
| Baroness Ashton, currently EU Trade Commissioner, said she was "slightly surprised but... deeply privileged". | Baroness Ashton, currently EU Trade Commissioner, said she was "slightly surprised but... deeply privileged". |
| Gordon Brown backed her for the role - effectively the EU's foreign minister - after accepting Tony Blair could not become European Council president. | Gordon Brown backed her for the role - effectively the EU's foreign minister - after accepting Tony Blair could not become European Council president. |
| He said it "reaffirmed" the UK's role at "the heart of Europe" but the Tories said it was a "missed opportunity". | He said it "reaffirmed" the UK's role at "the heart of Europe" but the Tories said it was a "missed opportunity". |
| 'Important position' | 'Important position' |
| He told journalists he hoped the appointment would be "welcomed" in the UK and denied Baroness Ashton lacked the clout to do the job. | He told journalists he hoped the appointment would be "welcomed" in the UK and denied Baroness Ashton lacked the clout to do the job. |
| It is a sign of the regard that people have for Britain Gordon Brown Profile: Baroness Ashton class="" href="/2/hi/europe/8369681.stm">Send us your comments | |
| "It is a sign of the regard that people have for Britain and Baroness Ashton that we have secured this important position for the country," he told reporters in Brussels. | "It is a sign of the regard that people have for Britain and Baroness Ashton that we have secured this important position for the country," he told reporters in Brussels. |
| In her new role, Baroness Ashton said she was pursue a policy of "quiet diplomacy", representing EU values around the world and "forming the relationships we must have" to ensure Europe continued to exert influence. | In her new role, Baroness Ashton said she was pursue a policy of "quiet diplomacy", representing EU values around the world and "forming the relationships we must have" to ensure Europe continued to exert influence. |
| Baroness Ashton emerged as a surprise candidate for the role on Thursday, when the EU's 27 leaders also announced that Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy would become the president of the EU Council - the job for which Mr Blair had been a prime candidate. | Baroness Ashton emerged as a surprise candidate for the role on Thursday, when the EU's 27 leaders also announced that Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy would become the president of the EU Council - the job for which Mr Blair had been 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. |
| 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. |
| European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso said her appointment showed the UK remained at "the heart of our project". | European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso said her appointment showed the UK remained at "the heart of our project". |
| The Tories said Baroness Ashton's appointment demonstrated Gordon Brown's determination to "have someone in one of those roles". | The Tories said Baroness Ashton's appointment demonstrated Gordon Brown's determination to "have someone in one of those roles". |
| "I think we have missed an opportunity here," said Timothy Kirkhope, the leader of Tory MEPs in Brussels. | "I think we have missed an opportunity here," said Timothy Kirkhope, the leader of Tory MEPs in Brussels. |
| "I wonder whether being the high representative for foreign affairs, when there are a lot of foreign policies in different capital cities around Europe, whether that has actually missed out for us in getting more influence in the area of economics." | "I wonder whether being the high representative for foreign affairs, when there are a lot of foreign policies in different capital cities around Europe, whether that has actually missed out for us in getting more influence in the area of economics." |
| 'Little-known figure' | 'Little-known figure' |
| Baroness Ashton was a government minister for eight years, latterly as leader of the House of Lords, before being chosen to replace Lord Mandelson as EU Trade Commissioner in 2008. | Baroness Ashton was a government minister for eight years, latterly as leader of the House of Lords, 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. |