- FEBRUARY 9, 2010
-
-
VOTE
Who Deserves a Foreign Policy Oscar?
-
NORTH KOREA
Kim Losing Control?
-
EUROPE
We Still Don’t Know Who’s Running the EU
No Miliband for Europe
Posted By Annie Lowrey
Tuesday, November 10, 2009 - 11:55 AM
Share
Yesterday, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced not just that Foreign Secretary David Miliband was not in contention for the job of EU high representative for foreign policy -- a powerful new post created by the Lisbon Treaty -- but that he never was interested at all.
Miliband made sense: He is young, liberal, well-liked in Europe, and well-connected in Washington -- important, given that the role is in part meant to consolidate Europe's voice and then turn up the volume. We'll know who will hold the post in the next few days, according to Brown. Other names that keep coming up include Italy's Massimo D'Alema, Belgium's Herman Van Rompuy, and Sweden's Carl Bildt.
But I'll still be wishing it were Miliband and don't quite get the calculus here. In six or eight months, Labour will be out of power and Miliband will become a shadow minister, prime or foreign, for five years at least. The EU job -- brief, big stage, big responsibility -- would surely suit Miliband and make him more valuable for Labour as well. Granted, I'd rather live in London than Brussels. But, what else am I missing?
JOHN THYS/AFP/Getty Images
Mr. Miliband is currently the government's point man on nuclear energy. Keeping him home may have more to do with that role than what he could accomplish at the EU.
http://djysrv.blogspot.com/2009/11/england-will-keep-lights-on-with.html
well, for one, the tories would do anything they could to stop it. And Merkel and Sarkozy aren't in love with the guy either.
Maybe he felt that he would have a better chance at power in the U.K, or it might be personal.
As a UK politician, accepting an EU post is the end of political career, not the beginning.
You'll wish it was him? I can't see why. The man is like a black hole of personality, a charisma-free zone. Another plastic, pointless 21st century politician in the Blair/Cameron mould who we're much better off getting rid of.
Besides, he's staying because the Milliband pod people are odds-on to move into the top Labour Party jobs after Brown takes a pasting in the next election. He's playing the long national game for his own benefit.
What they did (the coup supporters in Honduras) is creating a HERO out of a corrupt politician. The armed forces of Honduras won this battle for Chávez.Links of London | Links of London
Chipotle Mexican Grill links of london jewellery . The fast food at these casual links of london eateries feels slow, links london jewelry thanks to organic ingredients cheap links of london , custom combos, link of london and an emphasis on freshness. links of london sale Traffic is down at many locations, links of london jewelry but the company has been able to compensate by raising prices, links london Olive Garden. links of london Charms More food for less money hits the sweet spot these days, links of london Charm which makes the family-style portions at this casual Italian chain a hit with diners. links of london Necklaces Olive Garden is a division of Darden Restaurants, links london Necklace which also operates Red Lobster, links of london Bracelets Longhorn Steakhouse, links london Bracelet and a few smaller chains. links of london Sweetie Bracelets Olive Garden has been the best performer of the bunch, links london Sweetie Bracelet with same-store sales down slightly but overall sales up, links of london Friendship Bracelets thanks to about 35 new outlets links of london Sweetie Watches that have opened over the past year links london Friendship Bracelet
Passport, FP’s flagship blog, brings you news and hidden angles on the biggest stories of the day, as well as insights and under-the-radar gems from around the world.
Read More
(8)
HIDE COMMENTS LOGIN OR REGISTER REPORT ABUSE