Mandelson waarschijnlijke kandidaat-eurocommissaris (en)

The appointment of the next UK commissioner is causing upheaval in British politics.

Prime Minister Tony Blair has postponed a cabinet reshuffle because the man who has been offered the job, former cabinet minister Peter Mandelson, was unable to make up his mind whether to accept the job.

According to the Financial Times, Mr Mandelson, who has twice been forced to resign from the cabinet, has already been offered the post by Mr Blair.

However, he was in two minds whether to take it because there was still a chance that he might get back into the cabinet.

UK media report that Mr Blair sounded this idea out with colleagues but it was shot down.

Mr Mandelson is likely to announce later on Friday whether he will accept the post.

A close ally of the prime minister, Mr Mandelson has been both the Northern Ireland Secretary and trade and industry secretary.

He was forced to leave cabinet twice after being accused of improper financial dealings.

Some believe that if Mr Mandelson is nominated it will play into the hands of the eurosceptics who insist that Brussels is just a home for washed-up politicians.

"The nomination of a man who has twice been forced out of the cabinet would be a gift to eurosceptics", said UK liberal MEP Chris Davies.

"Creating the impression that Britain's top job in Europe has been given to one of 'Tony's cronies' would make the battle to win a referendum on the EU constitution very much harder", continued the MEP.