【09.12.03 Politics】Mandy: I would have liked EU foreign minister job

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Mandy: I would have liked EU foreign minister job
http://www.politics.co.uk/news/legal-and-constitutional/mandy-i-would-have-liked-eu-foreign-minister-job-$1344810.htm

Thursday, 03, Dec 2009 09:58

By politics.co.uk staff




















    Mandy;Committed to the government
Peter Mandelson would have liked the EU foreign minister role, he has admitted.

Speaking to the Today programme this morning, the business secretary said the high representative for external affairs post, which eventually went to Lady Ashton, would have combined his interests in "Europe and foreign affairs".

But Lord Mandelson insisted he was committed to the government.

"In other circumstances I would have liked to have done that job," he admitted.

"The point is I'm a member of this government and I'm committed to its success and its re-election and that's why I'm remaining a member of it."

Asked if French president Nicolas Sarkozy had blocked his attempt, he replied: "Nobody blocked me, I'm afraid we didn't get to that happy tage."                                                                                                

The departure of Lord Mandelson would have been a significant blow to the prime minister, who has relied heavily on the business secretary to keep the Labour tent united and to present a calm face to the media during an administration beset by crises.

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