Former Labour leader Neil Kinnock is hoping to return to frontline British politics.

The 60-year-old says he would "seriously consider" taking a seat in the House of Lords if the offer was made.

I'd like to be politically active again, without running for office

Neil Kinnock

But as Mr Kinnock ponders his future, speculation is rife that Peter Mandelson is being lined up to replace him and ex-Tory chairman Chris Patten as an European Union commissioner in 2004 when the two roles are merged into one.

Mr Kinnock, who led Labour between 1983 and 1992, says he still has his eye very much on the ball of British politics.

He told The Guardian: "I'd like to be politically active again, without running for office."

'Fanatically against'

Asked if he would consider a seat in the Lords, he insists: "I'd have to seriously consider it if I were approached."

Mr Kinnock is in regular touch with Prime Minister Tony Blair and the Labour heavyweights who rallied round him when he was leader, including Charles Clarke, Patricia Hewitt, John Reid and Adam Ingram.

He says he is "totally, utterly, fanatically against" the idea of a president of Europe.

Kinnock: Dead against EU president role

"If it's ever promoted, I will dedicate a good part of my time to campaigning against it," he tells The Guardian.

But he swears that Mr Blair is not lining up such a role for when he retires from frontline British politics.

Eurozone

"I can tell you that Tony has no aspirations in that direction. None whatsoever.

"Tony Blair is among those who is trying to provoke ideas instead of sitting around saying: 'Oh, this isn't working, this is awful' ... and if you can't have a debate about the future of the continent, then what the hell can you talk about?

"I don't do many double takes now - some of the refereeing decisions in the World Cup - but when I saw that Blair was trying to sew up the presidency of Europe for himself, then I thought, really, these people should be writing children's books.

"Charlie and the Chocolate Factory has got nothing on that."

Mr Kinnock, vice-president of the European commission, argues that the UK will pay higher interest rates than necessary as long as it is outside the eurozone.

Passion killer

"There's an unstoppable case for having it the moment we think that we can possibly win," he said.

Asked whether the UK could continue outside the single currency, he replied: "No, for a variety of reasons.

"Our lead as the country of the EU getting the biggest share of inward investment has been falling since 1998."

He stressed: "We will always be much more liable to ebbs and flows in the currency than if we were in a big currency and nobody looking back over the last 40 or 50 years of economic history knows the appalling damage that volatility in the pound has done to our economy and our public sector."

Mandelson: Next EU commissioner?

Mr Kinnock, famed for his passionate speeches, claims there is a feeling among the public that "politicians are only interested in themselves".

"I think you've got to put more vigour into it. That doesn't mean more screaming and shouting. It does mean connecting accomplishment with values."

Mr Kinnock says he believes some people "got frightened off passion by the way in which I was attacked - 'the Welsh windbag' - that could have been a reference to prolixity, I concede that.

'Not enough laughs'

"So people who could use passion and were very articulate became afraid of stirring the blood."

Mr Kinnock says there are few politicians who could "make people laugh as a way of delivering a message".

Meanwhile, Peter Mandelson's name is being bandied round Westminster as a frontrunner for the EU commissioner role.

However, Downing Street dismissed reports that the former Northern Ireland secretary is to become Britain's next ambassador to the United States.

The post became available following the departure of Sir Christopher Meyer, who has been named as the next chairman of the Press Complaints Commission.