Tony Blair

...Mr Brown's immediate problem: the headlines after Thursday's summit. So he stuck stubbornly to his support for Mr Blair, even though he knew it was a lost cause, and refused to disclose his Plan B to Britain's EU partners before they met.

In this article: European Union, Peter Mandelson, Gordon Brown, Europe, Geoff Hoon, and David Miliband

...Herman van Rompuy despite Gordon Brown campaigning for him hours before the decision. Friends said Mr Blair decided days earlier he wanted the plum post only if it was a proper presidential role but EU leaders favoured a "chairman" figure.

In this article: Europe, EU, Labour, Gordon Brown, Banana, and CND

...job to his predecessor. But it was the socialists who gave Mr Brown the reality check, telling him Mr Blair's involvement in the Iraq war would rule him out. On Wednesday, Swedish Prime Minister and temporary EU president Fredrik...

In this article: EU, Geoff Hoon, Peter Mandelson, Baroness Ashton, Banana, Iraq War, Fredrik Reinfeldt, and Nicolas Sarkozy

...Brown that his chances were over after a second - and decisive - phone call with Merkel late last week. Merkel told Blair she bore him no ill will but that the job would have to go to a leader from the dominant centre right. "Tony informed...

In this article: Gordon Brown, Angela Merkel, EU, Britain, Whitehall, Best interests, and Christian democrat

...presidency but remains a Mideast envoy. EU presidency went to a low-profile official rather than Tony Blair, Robin Oakley says He says Blair's image threatened to overshadow the EU nations' leaders British Conservatives said they would...

In this article: EU, Europe, Britain, United States, Jean-Claude Juncker, Middle East, and Barack Obama

...Baroness Ashton, Mr Brown said he had been determined to protect the UK's national interest in Europe. Mr Blair had never publicly said he was in the running for the job of EU President - given to Belgium's Herman van Rompuy - despite vocal...

In this article: EU, Baroness Ashton, Gordon Brown, UK, William Hague, Europe, Liberal Democrats, Labour, and House of Lords

Blair out of race to be EU president Belgium's Herman van Rompuy is widely tipped for the presidency Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has dropped out of the race to be European Council President - just as EU leaders meet to decide who...

In this article: EU, Gavin Hewitt, Europe, Brussels, UK, and UN

...officials cautioned that the deal could come unstuck if the search for a European president became tricky. With Mr Blair out of the way - he never declared himself to be a candidate - the odds on Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy...

In this article: EU, Jose Manuel Barroso, Baroness Ashton, Europe, Downing Street, Gordon Brown, and Herman Van Rompuy

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair encouraged investors to take a chance on Sierra Leone, a land once riven by civil war. LONDON (AP) Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair drummed up support Wednesday for investment in Sierra...

In this article: Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma, Africa, All rights reserved, USA Today, Britain, and London

LONDON (AP) - Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair drummed up support Wednesday for investment in Sierra Leone, arguing that the west African country has recovered from its brutal civil war and could offer unmatched opportunities in...

In this article: Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma, UK, Africa, London, Freetown, and Associated Press