Blair as a "false messiah"? Not something I expected to see from the BBC!
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Last Updated: Monday, 18 June 2007, 00:43 GMT 01:43 UK
Blair in Europe: a false messiah?

As Tony Blair prepares to attend his last European Union summit as prime
minister, William Horsley, a long-time observer of Europe's political
scene, says Mr Blair made powerful enemies, but his real legacy is to have
changed Europe beyond recognition over the past 10 years.

Tony Blair presented himself as Europe's saviour but has turned out to be a
false messiah.

That is a charge that some would make against him as he leaves the European stage.

A senior EU official says: "Blair was a first-class leader in Europe.

But he failed to make the case for Europe in Britain or to use his
influence with the US effectively."

[...]

And in 2000, Tony Blair was the main architect of the EU's ambitious
programme of economic reforms, called the "Lisbon Agenda",
designed to help Europe overtake the US as the world's most dynamic
knowledge-based economy. It is 
still officially one of the chief goals of the EU.
 
In his early years Tony Blair's aides joked that at home he was so popular
he could walk on water.

In Europe he achieved the accolade in 1999 of being awarded the Charlemagne
Prize for promoting the cause of European unity.

In his acceptance speech Tony Blair called the European Union a force for 
good in the world, and "a superpower, but not a superstate".

[...]

The proof is that as the EU prepares to create a prestigious new title of
"President of the European Council" in its next treaty, it is
looking around 
for a former European head of government who could be a global spokesman for 
all 27 EU government heads, and one big name has not yet been ruled out.
 
That name is Tony Blair.

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Source: "BBC News"
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6760937.stm

Cheers, Steve..

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