With John Major, BSE and Maastricht before him, and Margaret Thatcher's handbagging style before that, he could only look better. True, he has maintained distinct red lines, fighting doggedly to retain national vetoes over tax, borders and social security at the Nice summit, and standing firm ever since. But in a changing union no longer exclusively dominated by the old Franco-German alliance, he has found solid friends on key issues in Ireland, Sweden and Denmark, and built tactical alliances with Belgium, Spain and Portugal. He has played the EU game and done well. Critics say this was intended as a diversion from the larger question of the single currency.
Supporters insist it really matters.
Blair's poor integrationist credentials are less important, however, than his lack of boldness in exploiting the enormous majority he won in May 1997 to do more to endear his semi-detached countrymen to the idea of engagement in Europe. Blair has certainly been sending out strong signals about his intentions. Diplomats warn bluntly that without some serious movement on the euro front, Blair's EU allies will rapidly become disenchanted. December's summit at Laeken in Belgium will be an important moment to judge Britiain's intentions. Financial analysts are already detecting signs that a fall of the pound against the US dollar may create a more appropriate level for sterling to enter monetary union.