Controversial Mandelson named EU commissioner

Tony Blair named one of Britain's most controversial politicians as the country's next EU commissioner yesterday, in a move widely seen as reflecting his renewed confidence after surviving the worst of Iraq.

Twice forced out of government by scandal, Peter Mandelson, 50, enjoys Mr Blair's unswerving loyalty and has long acted as the prime minister's political mentor.

Mr Blair said in a statement: "Europe is Britain's best economic market. How Europe develops, especially a Europe of 25, will be crucial for the future of Britain. This is why we need the very best person representing Britain in Europe."

But the so-called "Prince of Darkness", the master political strategist who mapped the Labour Party's long journey out of the wilderness during the 1990s, is widely disliked elsewhere.

In particular, Britain's powerful finance minister Gordon Brown has never been a fan since Mr Mandelson jumped horses in 1994 and decided to back Mr Blair as Labour party leader.

Mr Mandelson admitted he agonised over the job but told Sky Television: "To find out why the Commission is unpopular, how we can create a European Union that is more in touch and more responsive to people's priorities ... that's what I want to do."