James Forsyth James Forsyth

The Great Brussels Steeplechase: runners and riders to be Britain’s next European Commissioner

Next week, EU leaders will meet to parcel out the top jobs in the next European Commission. So David Cameron doesn’t have long to decide who he is going to nominate—and Berlin is already bugging him for his pick. Here’s The Spectator‘s run down of the runners and riders.

Queen Elizabeth II Attends The State Opening Of Parliament

Andrew Lansley: Until recently the firm favourite. But in recent weeks support for him has fallen away. No. 10 has been irritated by the hints he has dropped about having been offered the job. It has also grasped that nominating someone as compensation for dropping them from the Cabinet is a recipe for getting a second-tier job.

(Image: ERIC PIERMONT/AFP/Getty Images)

(Image: ERIC PIERMONT/AFP/Getty Images)

David Willetts: The science and universities minister is keen to be sent to the Commission. He knows how to play the Brussels game: Britain has become the biggest beneficiary of EU research funds on his watch.

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