Number 10 Downing Street was last night refusing to comment on the report that the Prime Minister, Mr Blair, is set to name the former Hong Kong governor, Mr Chris Patten, as one of Britain's two EU Commissioners.
A spokesman said they had always refused to comment on the names of potential nominees, and indicated that a final decision might be some weeks off.
However other senior British government sources said that Mr Patten's potential nomination as EU Commissioner would have no impact on, or implications for, his continuing role as chairman of the independent commission on the future of policing in Northern Ireland. While explaining there was no reason why the Northern Ireland Secretary, Dr Mowlam, would be "in the loop" on the question of EU appointments, one source expressed absolute confidence that Mr Patten would, if offered, only take up such a post after completing his work in Northern Ireland. The EU position will not be taken up until September. Mr Patten could not be contacted last night for comment but sources close to the Commission expressed a similar view.
This morning's Financial Times reports that Mr Patten will succeed Sir Leon Brittan as one of the UK's two members of the European Commission. Mr Patten was a senior member of Mrs Margaret Thatcher's Conservative government in the 1980s.