Comments on: Mandelson? Mandelson!!! A few other thoughts

By: Liberal Conspiracy » Blair’s failure at EU illustrates its real nature

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:18:43 +0000

[...] Does anyone seriously believe that *anyone* is going to take Baroness Ashton seriously, a woman who’s been at the Commission for only a year, and was unqualified even for that? (See also…) [...]

By: The EU’s new “president” and “foreign minister” | Nosemonkey’s EUtopia

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:10:22 +0000

By: Dr Giacomo Benedetto

Dr Giacomo Benedetto — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 13:56:09 +0000

Cathy Ashton is unknown. Her appointment to one of the most important jobs in the European Commission, which negotiates all external trade matters for a Union of 490 million inhabitants, is motivated solely by the wish to avoid a by-election. Yet sending an experienced MEP such as Glenys Kinnock would also have avoided a by-election, while attracting positive publicity and applause from the European Parliament. Lastly, Ashton cannot resign from the Lords and is therefore debarred from membership of the Commission, unless some way round that can be found.

By: Jo

Jo — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 17:53:23 +0000

Jon – MOJ background. Respected in UK Council Pres of 05, I’m told, for really getting into it and doing what a Minister should in a Presidency in terms of networking, building coalitions etc. Jobwise, it’s up to Barroso to decide what happens next.
A Ministry of Sustainability would be responsible for battery recycling and the like… but do batteries come under energy? Or environment?

By: Jon

Jon — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 17:01:26 +0000

@Ben – and is she going to be any good as a Commissioner? Any clue?

By: Meet Britain’s new European Commissioner | Nosemonkey’s EUtopia

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:59:58 +0000

[...] Pertinent points from Jon Worth: Mandelson was playing an important role in WTO negotiations, and Ashton will not be able to [...]

By: Ben

Ben — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:48:27 +0000

Ashton just happened to chair the EPLP Britain in Europe Question Time breakfast event on the Monday of conference, with Miliband, Titley, Corbett and Czech MP Lubomir Zaoralek.