Gordon Brown 'went for second best to spite Tories'
Discussion
The only way to save the Uk is to leave the EU IMHO
Brown should stand trial of Treason!
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/art...
Brown should stand trial of Treason!
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/art...
Works for me.
This is what it says.
This is what it says.
Times said:
Gordon Brown rejected advice from Lord Mandelson to seek one of the big economic posts in the European Commission for Britain once it was clear that Tony Blair could not succeed in becoming Europe’s first president, The Times has learnt. Instead he settled for the post of EU High Representative for Baroness Ashton of Upholland.
The Business Secretary and other ministers believed that one of the EU’s three big financial jobs — running the internal market and financial services, competition or trade — would have served Britain’s interests better than putting such an inexperienced figure into the foreign affairs role.
Instead Mr Brown allowed himself to be persuaded — bounced according to some EU sources — into accepting the foreign affairs job by a combination of Europe’s Socialist leaders and José Manuel Barroso, the President of the European Commission.
There were also claims that, in exchange, Mr Brown did a deal with President Sarkozy to give the internal market portfolio to the French, sparking criticism from the Conservatives.
With David Miliband having ruled himself out of the foreign affairs post, senior ministers believed that a lack of suitable candidates meant that an economic job would be more appropriate.
But leaders of the Socialist group from Austria, Greece and Spain agreed that Britain should take the foreign affairs role on behalf of the Centre Left, while Mr Barroso pushed the claims of Lady Ashton, who was not Mr Brown’s preference. Her appointment has caused exasperation among senior ministers, who, while acknowledging her negotiating skills, point to a lack of experience in foreign affairs.
Commenting on her appointment and that of Herman Van Rompuy, the Belgian Prime Minister, as EU President, one ministerial source said: “We have ended up with two garden gnomes. It is the lowest common denominator. Cathy Ashton is a very nice person and she is good at talking to people but she has no ideas of where Europe should be going. Gordon has allowed himself to be pushed around by Barros, who wanted Ashton in there so that he can dominate the stage himself.”
For a few hours on Thursday morning Geoff Hoon appeared to be on course for a spectacular comeback. The former Defence Secretary was Downing Street’s first choice as Britain’s next European Commissioner – before Mr Brown arrived in Brussels and switched to Lady Ashton.
By the time he boarded his flight to Brussels, Mr Brown knew that the candidacy of Tony Blair had failed. In truth he had known that for three weeks but had carried on pushing for the former Prime Minister, even though Mr Blair had urged him to drop the idea a week ago.
Mr Blair realised the game was up in a phone call with Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, a week ago, The Times understands. But Mr Brown wanted to keep up the Blair campaign as cover to push for a top economic job in the next European Commission.
When he arrived in Brussels, Mr Brown was left in no doubt by his Socialist colleagues that they wanted to nominate a British politician for Europe’s second most important job – that of High Representative.
It was part of a wider deal where the Socialists would have the high representative while Europe’s dominant Centre Right would claim the presidency. The Socialists had wanted David Miliband. Their second choice was Lord Mandelson. He, too, was tempted, The Times can reveal, but concluded that his first duty was to stay with the Prime Minister.
At the Socialist leaders’ pre-summit meeting, Mr Brown tested the water with Mr Hoon’s name. The other key figures in the room were Werner Faymann of Austria, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero of Spain, George Papandreou of Greece and Borut Pahor, the Slovenian Prime Minister. There was only a flicker of support.
But when Lady Ashton’s name was discussed, there was widespread endorsement. Mr Barroso had told Mr Brown that he felt Lady Ashton was up to the task and that message had also gone to other leaders.
The deal was clinched in a pre-meeting before the summit dinner on Thursday when Mr Brown told Ms Merkel, Mr Sarkozy, Silvio Berlusconi and Fredrik Reinfeldt, the Swedish leader, the outcome of the meeting. “It’s Ashton,” he said.
“Je suis d’accord,” Mr Berlusconi replied, Ms Merkel nodded and President Sarkozy gave a thumbs up. Mr Reinfeldt was able to tell the 27 leaders as they sat down to dinner that he had a deal to propose. There was no dissent and they were free to enjoy their wild mushrooms and sea bass rather than discussing other candidates.
The Business Secretary and other ministers believed that one of the EU’s three big financial jobs — running the internal market and financial services, competition or trade — would have served Britain’s interests better than putting such an inexperienced figure into the foreign affairs role.
Instead Mr Brown allowed himself to be persuaded — bounced according to some EU sources — into accepting the foreign affairs job by a combination of Europe’s Socialist leaders and José Manuel Barroso, the President of the European Commission.
There were also claims that, in exchange, Mr Brown did a deal with President Sarkozy to give the internal market portfolio to the French, sparking criticism from the Conservatives.
With David Miliband having ruled himself out of the foreign affairs post, senior ministers believed that a lack of suitable candidates meant that an economic job would be more appropriate.
But leaders of the Socialist group from Austria, Greece and Spain agreed that Britain should take the foreign affairs role on behalf of the Centre Left, while Mr Barroso pushed the claims of Lady Ashton, who was not Mr Brown’s preference. Her appointment has caused exasperation among senior ministers, who, while acknowledging her negotiating skills, point to a lack of experience in foreign affairs.
Commenting on her appointment and that of Herman Van Rompuy, the Belgian Prime Minister, as EU President, one ministerial source said: “We have ended up with two garden gnomes. It is the lowest common denominator. Cathy Ashton is a very nice person and she is good at talking to people but she has no ideas of where Europe should be going. Gordon has allowed himself to be pushed around by Barros, who wanted Ashton in there so that he can dominate the stage himself.”
For a few hours on Thursday morning Geoff Hoon appeared to be on course for a spectacular comeback. The former Defence Secretary was Downing Street’s first choice as Britain’s next European Commissioner – before Mr Brown arrived in Brussels and switched to Lady Ashton.
By the time he boarded his flight to Brussels, Mr Brown knew that the candidacy of Tony Blair had failed. In truth he had known that for three weeks but had carried on pushing for the former Prime Minister, even though Mr Blair had urged him to drop the idea a week ago.
Mr Blair realised the game was up in a phone call with Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, a week ago, The Times understands. But Mr Brown wanted to keep up the Blair campaign as cover to push for a top economic job in the next European Commission.
When he arrived in Brussels, Mr Brown was left in no doubt by his Socialist colleagues that they wanted to nominate a British politician for Europe’s second most important job – that of High Representative.
It was part of a wider deal where the Socialists would have the high representative while Europe’s dominant Centre Right would claim the presidency. The Socialists had wanted David Miliband. Their second choice was Lord Mandelson. He, too, was tempted, The Times can reveal, but concluded that his first duty was to stay with the Prime Minister.
At the Socialist leaders’ pre-summit meeting, Mr Brown tested the water with Mr Hoon’s name. The other key figures in the room were Werner Faymann of Austria, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero of Spain, George Papandreou of Greece and Borut Pahor, the Slovenian Prime Minister. There was only a flicker of support.
But when Lady Ashton’s name was discussed, there was widespread endorsement. Mr Barroso had told Mr Brown that he felt Lady Ashton was up to the task and that message had also gone to other leaders.
The deal was clinched in a pre-meeting before the summit dinner on Thursday when Mr Brown told Ms Merkel, Mr Sarkozy, Silvio Berlusconi and Fredrik Reinfeldt, the Swedish leader, the outcome of the meeting. “It’s Ashton,” he said.
“Je suis d’accord,” Mr Berlusconi replied, Ms Merkel nodded and President Sarkozy gave a thumbs up. Mr Reinfeldt was able to tell the 27 leaders as they sat down to dinner that he had a deal to propose. There was no dissent and they were free to enjoy their wild mushrooms and sea bass rather than discussing other candidates.
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