Mandelson makes last-ditch effort to join Commission

By Martin Banks

Date: 10/06/04

FORMER UK minister Peter Mandelson has made a last minute bid to salvage his hopes of securing a post in the European Commission, it emerged this week.

It had been thought UK premier Tony Blair had decided the twice-disgraced Mandelson was too "high risk" to replace the Commission's Vice-President Neil Kinnock, one of the main obstacles being that it would create a third by-election for Blair's Labour government this summer. If Mandelson were appointed to the Commission, a poll would have to be organized for his post as MP in the north-east of England.

Labour already faces two potentially difficult by-elections in Leicester South and in Birmingham Hodge Hill where Terry Davies is poised to resign if, as expected, he becomes secretary-general of the Strasbourg-based Council of Europe in elections on 22 June.

But European Voice can reveal that Mandelson has submitted plans to Blair for a new ballot on 22 July, the day the House of Commons rises for the summer recess, in which all three by-elections would be held together.

Mandelson has coveted a Commission post since his second resignation from Blair's cabinet three years ago but it had been thought he would not get a chance of realizing his ambition.

Finance Minister Gordon Brown and Foreign Secretary Jack Straw strongly oppose his appointment, preferring instead Defence Minister Geoff Hoon.

But Blair may now have a change of heart.

A source close to Mandelson said: "He won't say it publicly but he is still very much set on becoming the UK's commissioner.

"The problem is that he is still saddled with the 'Tony crony' tag and, in an effort to shed this, has recently been doing the rounds in principal EU embassies in London giving speeches on his personal vision for Europe."

Mandelson was sacked as trade and industry secretary in 1998 following a property purchase in London.

The next year, he was given the post of Northern Ireland secretary but that lasted little more than 12 months before he quit, following claims that he had involved himself in attempts by two billionaire Indian brothers to acquire UK passports.

Former UK Minister Peter Mandelson is reported to be keen to secure a post in the European Commission.