If Tony Blair was taking part in Strictly Come Dancing, he would probably be described by the judges as waltzing his way to the top with deceptively good footwork. But there the flattery ends, because in reality he seems to be ‘ego-tripping the light fantastic’ with his charming partner, Cherie, towards a number one position in the EU.
Tony Blair, President of Europe – five words that leave me (and, I expect, many others) feeling slightly queasy and very uneasy where democracy is concerned.
And with democracy in mind, it would appear that the European Parliament could actually learn a lesson from BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, which actually gives the public a chance to vote. For example: have Ministers/MEPs produced a shortlist of presidential candidates and given us (not forgetting the electorate from all EU member countries) the chance to vote? Answer: no – and don’t forget we in Britain have not had the chance of a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, through which the role of president is created. Very democratic!
Instead, the new president will be ‘chosen’ by leaders of the 27 EU states in the near future.
The whole situation becomes even more outrageous when one learns that the first president could receive a staggering £3.5 million over five years and would pay a special EU rate of tax, averaging at just 25 per cent. Doesn’t that just smack of ‘one rule for me, and one rule for you’?
Now if Mr Blair lands this coveted new position – and it seems an inevitable outcome unless mass European protests force a total rethink – he will not only become the most powerful man in Europe with a personal staff of 20 plus private jet to fly him round the globe, he will be the EU’s face at international summits, where he is likely to supplant the role of British Prime Minister. On top of all this, there are perks galore in true European parliamentary gravy train-style.
Happily, opposition to Mr Blair’s candidacy is growing. The Tories are lobbying EU leaders, and a petition is to be reopened after organisers were deluged with thousands of requests from across Europe.
Organiser Jerome Guillet, of the magazine European Tribune, is reported to have said: “A lot of the opposition comes from the UK.
“Tony Blair would be a terrible president. He is just interested in grandstanding for himself. The last thing we need is more spin.
“He tried to divide Europe over Iraq, a conflict where many war crimes were committed. He is completely unsuitable.”
That pretty well sums up everything.
