Brown prepared to campaign for Blair as EU president

GORDON BROWN is prepared to actively campaign for Tony Blair to be the first president of the European Union, Downing Street sources said.

The prime minister was said to be ready to start lobbying for support among other EU leaders if Blair throws his hat into the ring as a candidate.

The move comes as Tory leader David Cameron underlined his fierce opposition to Blair becoming president of the European Council, just months before a general election which could see a return to power for the Conservatives.