Brown keeps his counsel on EU trade post

Article reports that UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown on 8 September 2009 issued a vote of confidence in Catherine Ashton, Britain's European Commissioner, but declined to say whether he would back the Brussels trade chief for a new term for the period 2009-2014.

The view in Brussels and around Downing Street is that Baroness Ashton was in pole position to continue as Britain's Commissioner for the next five years, possibly staying in her trade post, where she is seen to be doing a solid if unspectacular job.