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Tony Blair was named for the first time as the Government's candidate for President of the European Council today. 

Confirming that Britain is pushing Mr Blair's case for a dramatic return to frontline politics, Baroness Kinnock, the Europe Minister, said that Mr Blair's "strength of character" made him the ideal person for the job created under the Lisbon Treaty. 

Mr Blair himself has avoided declaring his hand or openly campaigning ahead of the decision on the new high-profile post, which is expected to be made by heads of the EU governments at their summit in late October if the Lisbon Treaty passes a second referendum in Ireland on October 2. 

The former Prime Minister is currently working as a special envoy to the Middle East for the Quartet of the UN, US, EU and Russia. 

The new role, often shortened to President of Europe, is to organize and preside over regular meetings of the 27 EU leaders and has been referred to as the George Washington of Europe. 

"The UK government is supporting Tony Blair's candidature for President of the Council," Mrs Kinnock told journalists in Strasbourg today. 

Referring to the other job of EU foreign minister to be created by the treaty, as well as the all the jobs yet to be allocated in the next European Commission, she added: "There are a lot of roles to be decided. It is going to be an exciting time." 

Pressed on whether Mr Blair was now a declared candidate for the job, Mrs Kinnock added: "I am not saying there has been any formal confirmation or statement from Tony but it is certainly is the Government's position. I am sure they would not do it without asking him." 

Gordon Brown has been frequently asked if he was supporting Mr Blair's case and has said that, should the former Prime Minister put his name forward, then he would have the British Government's full support. 

Baroness Kinnock's admission today suggests that conversations are already being held behind the scenes with the power brokers of Europe. 

She added: "Tony Blair is seen by many as someone who has the strength of character, the stature, people know who he is and he would be someone who would have this role and step into with a lot of respect and I think would be generally welcomed." 

Mr Blair's main backers around the EU leaders' table are understood to be senior figures on the centre right of politics, including Silvio Berlusconi of Italy and Jan Peter Balkenende of the Netherlands. 

President Sarkozy has spoken of his support for Mr Blair in the past but recent reports in France have claimed that the President now favors Felipe Gonzalez, a former Prime Minister of Spain. 

One potential handicap for Mr Blair's prospects is often said to be reluctance among Socialist MEPs to endorse him as a centre-left candidate. 

Bur Mrs Kinnock appeared confident that they could be won round. Initially saying that she was sure that Europe's socialists would come on board, she added: "There would be a sympathetic response but it depends who else is in the frame." 

A British government spokeswoman was quick to add that Mrs Kinnock was not pre-empting the result of the Lisbon Treaty vote in Ireland. "The reality is that the Lisbon Treaty has not entered into force and if and when it does there will be the role of Council President. Tony Blair has yet to say he will stand. There is not even a job for him to be candidate for at the moment." 

That view was reiterated by a spokesman for Mr Blair, who said: "Nothing has changed. The job doesn't exist, so there is nothing to be a candidate for. Mr Blair remains focused on his role in the Middle East."