Blair pledge to secure EU budget deal - papers 27th Oct

Blair hopes to muster broad support for the essentially liberal economic policy agenda at an informal summit at Hampton Court today. The plan, drawn up by José Manuel Barroso, Commission president, eschews protectionism and says governments should focus on training people to adapt to change instead of trying to save jobs. Blair told the European parliament in Strasbourg that if the Hampton Court summit set the EU on a modernising track, it could pave the way for the agreement of a “modern budget” for the union at a summit in December. MARK TUCKER, the new chief executive of Prudential...