Blair confirmed as Middle East envoy

Blair to lead Middle East peace process

Wednesday, 27, Jun 2007 12:00

Tony Blair will become a Middle East peace envoy, the quartet confirmed following his departure from government.

After leaving Number 10, the ex-prime minister boarded a train to his Sedgefield constituency, where he is expected to announce his resignation as MP and make his own statement on the move to Jerusalem.

The Quartet, comprised of the US, European Union, United Nations and Russia, met yesterday to discuss Mr Blair's appointment as Middle East envoy.

Last night it was revealed Mr Blair's local Labour club has been convened for an emergency meeting tonight.

John Burton, Mr Blair's constituency agent, said Mr Blair intends to take up the role in the Middle East.

"If he gets the Middle East job, he will resign," Mr Burton said last night.

Mr Blair did not attempt to duck the issue during his final prime minister's questions. He told MPs a two state solution was the only way to bring peace to the Israel and Palestine.

Earlier, the Irish prime minister Bertie Ahern revealed Mr Blair had already accepted the diplomatic position in the Middle East.

Mr Ahern said Mr Blair told him last week that he would lead renewed peace keeping efforts in the region.

"I spoke to him about this on Friday night. I can tell you that's exactly what he's going to do," Mr Ahern told RTE

The Irish taoiseach said Mr Blair expected the appointment to be "tricky".

Mr Ahern continued: "But…it's like in Northern Ireland, where you just have to stay in it.

"He believes if you have hands-on, persistent engagement then you can have real progress."

Mr Ahern said Mr Blair had been a decisive and informed prime minister, especially when it came to Northern Ireland.

Former government minister Clare Short dismissed Mr Blair's presence on the backbenches as a "marginal detail" and said the Middle East envoy role was a "tokenistic gesture".

Speaking to Radio 4's PM programme, Ms Short said: "The Road Map is going nowhere – it was meant to lead to the establishment of a Palestinian state by the end of 2005.

"So this is tokenistic – it won't do Tony Blair any good, it won't do peace any good or the Middle East any good".

Mr Blair's decision to resign as MP for Sedgefield will trigger a by-election in the safe Labour seat.

Labour will also be fighting a by-election in Ealing Southall following the death of the backbench MP Piara Khabra.