Tony Blair and Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, will be hosting a meeting of international leaders and experts in January to discuss the global economic crisis, according to the Reuters and Associated Press news agencies.
The former British prime minister and current Middle East envoy used to leave the economy to Gordon Brown. But given the blaze of glory world leaders heaped on Brown at the G20 meeting of world leaders in Washington at the weekend, it seems Blair wants a slice of the action.
Trusted Westminster colleagues caution against seeing this as a snub to Brown. Sarkozy enjoys cordial relations with Brown and Blair but, if you remember, he also backed Blair for EU president.
That job was taken off the table after Ireland failed to sign the necessary EU treaty, but if Ireland was to have a change of heart ... perhaps Blair believes it prudent to keep his hand in.
