"UK 'backs Blair for EU president' "

The BBC report that:

"Tony Blair will be the UK's official candidate for EU president, Baroness Kinnock has apparently confirmed.

The post will only be created if the Lisbon Treaty is ratified by all EU states - Ireland is to hold a second referendum in October.

There has long been speculation that the former PM would go for the post but he has not confirmed he will do so.

It is the first time a UK government minister has publicly announced Tony Blair is a candidate for the job.

Previously, ministers have said it was premature to talk of supporting any particular candidate when the job itself did not exist.

But at a briefing in Strasbourg, Europe Minister Lady Kinnock said: "The UK government is supporting Tony Blair's candidature for president of the Council [of EU governments]."

Asked if it had been discussed with Mr Blair, currently a Middle East envoy, she said: "It is the government's position. I am sure they would not do that without asking him."

Lady Kinnock went on to say Mr Blair had the "strength of character" and "status" to take on the job.

She added: "People know who he is, and he could step into this new role with a lot of respect and he would be generally welcomed." "

The UK backs Tony Blair! Does it, does it really?

So what we have here is the wife of a failed Labour leader, a person appointed to the House of Lords by an unelected Prime Minister who avoided a leadership election, declaring that the UK would support the candidacy of the man who promised to serve a full term as Prime Minister but then resigned leaving the way open for Gordon Brown to replace him without facing an election.
Does anyone else find the stench unbearable?