Blair for President?

As speculation grows over whether Tony Blair will run for the job of EU president,this morning's Times asks Is President Blair the man for the job

The piece by Philip Webster political editor claims

Tony Blair will win the backing of Gordon Brown if he attempts to become the president of the European Council

,and that the former PM

is waiting to see whether the new post, created by the Lisbon reform treaty, lives up to the billing

.

Blair's biggest hurdle will be his steadfast support for President Bush over the Iraq war,a issue which has irked many of his European colleagues.Whether the rest of Europe is ready to forgive him for that and let him be their spokesman remains to be seen.

In the words of William Hague,we await the day that his Mercedes rolls down Whitehall.