Blair 'Could Stay in Power to Sort out EU Crisis'

[Gloria]

From the new World Media Watch up now at http://www.zianet.com/insightanalytical
Tomorrow at Buzzflash.com

2//The Telegraph, UK (Filed: 05/06/2005)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;sessionid=PXJ0AT3OJAHE1QFIQMGSNAGAVCBQWJVC?xml=/news/exclusions/euhome.xml



BLAIR ‘COULD STAY IN POWER TO SORT OUT EU CRISIS’



Tony Blair could carry on as Prime Minister for another two to three years now that plans for a Europe referendum have been dropped, his old ally Peter Mandelson has claimed.



Mr Mandelson, now Britain's EU commissioner, said that the crisis facing the EU following the rejection of the new constitution by French and Dutch voters, would provide Mr Blair with a fresh challenge.



It had been widely expected that Mr Blair would stand down after Britain's referendum on the constitutional treaty, due to take place early next year, to make way for Gordon Brown, the Chancellor.



However, in the wake of the French and Dutch No votes, Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, will announce tomorrow that Britain's referendum plans are to be put on indefinite hold.



Mr Mandelson said that Mr Blair could now play a leading role in sorting out the tangle in which the EU was now embroiled.


SNIP


His comments are likely to infuriate his long-time rival, Mr Brown. Although Mr Blair has said that he intends to serve a full third term, most MPs expect him to stand down long before then.



(MORE)



RELATED: BLAIR HOPES TO EMULATE THATCHER WITH 10 YEARS AS PRIME MINISTER

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/story.jsp?story=644575

[kenny blankenship]

1. Seems to me that kicking bLiar down the gangplank ASAP

would be a nice gesture towards restarting the EU Constitution ratifying process, of course matched with some reciprocal gestures from France and Germany that the British would like to see. Having this Fascism-friendly goon at the head of your country doesn't sit very well when, quite apart from the whole empire building for Jesus and Oil thing that they tried to stop him from taking part in, bLiar's nearly Thatcherite attitude to social programs already has the Continentals worried.

[Cha]

2. I second that suggestion! n/t

[aneerkoinos]

3. Amusing

He created the crises by watering down the social aspects of CT so much that it became unacceptable to French voters. Not to mention by dividing Europe by his stubborn decision to commit UK in an illegal war of aggression. And then sending Mandelson to Commission to piss on all Europeans, after Britts had had enough of his piss.

Gladly only thing Blair is likely to succeed in is making European real left, those that oppose ideological market liberalization, more stronger and more united.