European Affairs

It is always a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr. Davey) in a debate on European policy. I agree with almost everything that he said about the issues that confront the European Union. It is important that we move on from the great debate about who got which job. Of course there was a lot of lobbying off camera, by political parties, Members of this House and others, but the issue has now been settled. It is important that we move on and give our new High Representative—our former British Commissioner and new vice-president of the Commission, Cathy Ashton—our full support. I believe that she will do a terrific job. It is important that we should have women in positions of genuine responsibility as public faces of the European Union. I wish her well, and I hope that the whole House does too. Indeed, I take the comments made by the Opposition spokesman, the hon. Member for Rayleigh (Mr. Francois), as being positive. He wants to work with her and ensure that she will be a success.