(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – The majority of people in Britain would not agree with the potential appointment of Tony Blair as president of the European Union (EU), according to a poll by Populus published in The Times. If the new post of EU president is established and the former British prime minister is offered the job, 63 per cent of respondents would disagree with the appointment.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – The majority of people in Britain would not agree with the potential appointment of Tony Blair as president of the European Union (EU), according to a poll by Populus published in The Times. If the new post of EU president is established and the former British prime minister is offered the job, 63 per cent of respondents would disagree with the appointment.
In addition, 51 per cent of respondents think Britain benefits from being a member of the EU, while 46 per cent disagree.
Blair served as Britain’s prime minister since May 1997, winning majority mandates in the 1997, 2001 and 2005 elections to the House of Commons. In June 2007, Gordon Brown officially became Labour leader and prime minister, replacing Blair. Brown had worked as chancellor of the exchequer.
A new common European body of law, known as the Lisbon Treaty, has been ratified by most of the EU’s 27 members, including Britain. The document’s provisions call for the creation of new posts, such as a foreign policy chief, and a High Representative who will answer to EU governments and serve as vice-president of the European Commission.
Under the terms of the Lisbon Treaty, EU leaders would also choose a president of the European Council for a two and a half year renewable term. This will effectively eliminate the current six-month rotating presidency among member nations. The Lisbon Treaty also provides for the creation of a mutual defence clause, in case one of the member states is attacked.
In June 2008, 53.4 per cent of Irish voters rejected the adoption of the Lisbon Treaty. Ireland, due to its internal regulations, was the only country that had to hold a nationwide vote on the Lisbon Treaty, while other governments were able to decide whether they wanted to do the same.
The Irish government has decided to hold a new referendum this fall. 82 per cent of respondents to this survey think that, if the Lisbon Treaty is ratified by Irish voters this time, Britain should hold its own referendum on the issue.
Polling Data
Do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements?
|
|
Agree
|
Disagree
|
Not sure
|
|
If Ireland and other countries ratify the Lisbon Treaty on the future of the European Union, Britain should hold its own referendum on the issue
|
82%
|
13%
|
5%
|
|
If the Lisbon Treaty goes through and the new post of President of the EU is established, the job should go to Tony Blair
|
23%
|
63%
|
3%
|
|
Britain benefits from being a member of the EU
|
51%
|
46%
|
3%
|
Source: Populus / The Times
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,504 British adults, conducted from May 6 to May 8, 2009. No margin of error was provided.
