EU crisis gives Blair “fresh calling” claims Mandelson
Tony Blair could continue serving as Britain’s premier for another two or three years now that the future of the European constitution is in doubt, former minister Peter Mandelson has claimed.
The prime minister’s old political ally, now Britain’s EU commissioner, said the rejection of the constitution by French and Dutch voters would provide Mr Blair with a “fresh calling.”
Political commentators had expected Mr Blair to stand down and make way for Chancellor Gordon Brown after Britain’s referendum on the treaty, due to take place next year.
But in the wake of the French and Dutch “no” votes, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw is expected to announce on Monday that the UK referendum will no longer go ahead.
Speaking in an interview for ITV1’s Jonathan Dimbleby programme, Mr Mandelson said the EU crisis gave Mr Blair the opportunity to help Europe “change and mend its direction.”
The Prime Minister will bear responsibility for outlining a future for Europe when he assumes the presidency of the EU on July 1st.
“I don’t think what’s happened in Europe this week will have any direct impact whatsoever. If anything, it gives him a fresh calling,” said Mr Mandelson commenting on Mr Blair’s leadership.
“I hope that as part of his legacy when eventually he does step down as Prime Minister towards the end of this parliament, he will be able to look back on the next two to three years and say ‘I helped Europe change and mend it’s direction, re-build public confidence and trust in the European project in a way that seems relevant to us and our daily lives’ and that’s what I’d like to see him do.”
Meanwhile, Downing Street is reportedly resisting pressure from France and Germany to continue the process of ratifying the EU constitution.
French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said EU leaders were under a legal obligation not to abandon the treaty, following talks in Berlin on Saturday.
Europe’s leaders will discuss the future of the treaty at a summit on June 16t
