Hot gossip from Brussels

Early evening return from Brussels, where I have spent a couple of days visiting various European institutions, including the Parliament, the Commission, UKRep (the UK permanent representation to the EU) and the Welsh Assembly Government EU Office.

Brussels is a tremendously gossipy place at the best of times (even more so than Westminster), but at the moment is full of fevered speculation as to the outcome of the heads of government summit on Thursday, when the president of the European Council and the EU High Representative will be selected.

The generally accepted view is that Tony Blair is out of the running for president and that the Belgian Prime Minister, Herman Van Rompuy, is the hot favourite. 

Surprisingly enough, however, and more interestingly, there is a considerable body of opinion that David Miliband is still very much in the running for the possibly more powerful position of High Representative, notwithstanding the protestations of both the Foreign Secretary and his brother that he has ruled himself out.  Given that Van Rompuy is a centre right politician from a small country, the theory is that the High Rep position must go to a centre left candidate from a big country and that Miliband is the most obvious candidate. 

If that happens, it will be fascinating to see the response from within the Labour party.

The Eurostar, by the way, was spectacularly good.  It pulled out of Brussels Midi station at 4.00 pm and just over two hours later arrived at St Pancras.  Beats air travel any time.