Britain's business secretary has spoken out in favour of Tony Blair becoming the first president of the European Council.

In an interview for HARDtalk he told Stephen Sackur that the former British prime minister was an ideal candidate, saying that the job needed someone with a "strong brain and personality" to shape and define the new role.

Watch the full interview with Peter Mandelson on HARDtalk on Monday 2nd November 2009.

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