Miliband looks likely for top job as Blair's chances fades away

Side by side: David Miliband and Gordon Brown pictured last night in Brussels. A European job for Mr Miliband would bring an unwelcome by-election for Labour
12 April 2012

David Miliband replaced Tony Blair today as the Briton most likely to win a top EU job after the former premier ran into concerted opposition at the Brussels summit.

As the Czech government removed the final hurdle to the creation of the post of EU President, Mr Blair's chances of winning the plum title appeared to fade amid doubts from Germany, Spain and a raft of smaller countries.

But Mr Miliband emerged as a front-runner for the newly created post of foreign affairs chief to represent the 27-nation bloc. Allies said that the Foreign Secretary could "do a Mandelson" by spending a few years in Brussels before returning to the UK for a possible crack at becoming Labour leader.

Amid intense horse-trading on the margins of the EU summit today, it emerged that the centre-Right and Left-wing party groupings across Europe are stitching up a deal to share out the top posts. Centre-right nations such as Germany and France want one of their own to get the President's job, leaving the foreign affairs post to the socialist grouping - of which Labour is a key member.

A YouGov/Telegraph poll today found that fewer than one in three voters want Mr Blair to become European President. British diplomatic sources also began to play down his chances, pointing to a "distinct lack of overwhelming enthusiasm from the French and the Germans".

EU Commission President José Manuel Barroso last night welcomed the removal of the "last political hurdle" to the creation of both posts as the Lisbon Treaty edged closer to full ratification.

Czech President Vaclav Klaus, whose country is the last to hold out against agreeing the blueprint, is expected to sign next week. A summit within weeks will then select a president and foreign affairs "high representative".

Mr Blair still has an outside chance, but his undeclared campaign suffered an "attack of the dwarves" last night as smaller nations said they wanted a chairman of summits rather than a powerful, globe-trotting executive.

Mr Blair still has the support of Italy's Silvio Berlusconi, but French President Nicolas Sarkozy appeared to weaken his backing after strong pressure from German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Even Ireland is backing off its support after its former prime minister John Bruton threw his hat in the ring. At a key dinner in Paris on Wednesday night, Ms Merkel emphasised to Mr Sarkozy that the centre-Right European People's Party grouping needed one of its own to become the president.

Spanish premier José Luis Zapatero publicly warned against a Blair presidency, preferring a "real European" from a country that was part of the euro and believed in closer integration.

Mr Miliband's name is on the European Socialist Group's list of candidates for the "high representative" post. By going to Brussels, he would avoid a possible bitter battle for the Labour Party leadership if next year's general election is lost.

His appointment would trigger yet another unwanted by-election for Gordon Brown, but would make it easier for Alan Johnson, Ed Balls or Ed Miliband to become Labour leader.

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