Blair to fight Mandelson's corner

Tony Blair will fight to keep Peter Mandelson as Europe's trade commissioner when leaders gather in Rome today to discuss the crisis gripping the European Union.

The 25 heads of state are gathering in the Italian capital for the signing ceremony of the new European constitution.

The event is being staged at a cost of ?9 million with heads of state being ferried to Rome's town hall in a fleet of Maserati sports cars.

But the meeting will be dominated by negotiations over the new commission being drawn up by Jose Manuel Barroso, the commission president.

Mr Barroso was forced to stand down his entire 25-s t rong cab i net on Wednesday.

The European Parliament had threatened to vote down his choice of commissioners unless the Italian Rocco Buttiglione was removed from the justice and home affairs brief. Mr Buttiglione has denounced homosexuality as a sin and claimed single mothers are not good parents.

Mr Barroso has warned that a reshuffle could see as many as 10 changes to senior posts.

"It can mean there will not be only one change but several changes," he said. His comments have prompted fears that Mr Mandelson could lose his coveted trade portfolio in the shake-up.

Mr Barroso's hands have been tied by the refusal of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to withdraw Mr Buttiglione. The Italian leader said he would only abandon his man if others were axed too.