On her second day as the EU's High Representative, Baroness Catherine Ashton appeared in the European Parliament's main chamber to answer questions from MEPs. This early visit was intended to show the EP that she was going to take their role very seriously and many MEP's appreciated the gesture and saw it like Jose Salafranca Sanchez-Neyra (EPP) did, as a "sign of goodwill". Her strategy was simple, to make it clear that she intended to involve the Parliament, "I shouldn't just come before you at times like this, I hope you will contact me with your concerns, or anything you want to bring to my attention, at any time" and to emphasise the consensual nature of the role, representing 27 nations, "It is important to find common threads. I mean highest common factor, not the lowest common denominator. Her final aim was to avoid making an error or commiting any policy blunders. In all this, she was successful. 
 
The chamber was, like so many of the members, warmly receptive to her. The only outspoken objections came from the UK Conservative Party and the UK Independence Party. Charles Tannock (ECR) asked what experience she brought to the table and why she thought she was qualified enough to do the job and fired off a series of detailed policy questions. In a stinging reply, the Baroness said "I was chosen because 27 heads of government invited me. I may not be your choice but I appear to be theirs and I will do my best to do the job as best as I possibly can." This was greeted with applause from all over the chamber. David Campbell-Bannerman (EFD) Asked her if she had accepted Soviet money during her time as treasurer of the UK Campaign for nuclear disarnament in the early 80's. She denied this strongly and expressed her hope that "I hope you ask me some foreign policy questions next time we have an encounter." More applause for the Baroness. 
 
By this time it was clear that there was some steel to the Lady, but the UK Conservatives kept up their attack when Geoffrey Van Orden (ECR) made a rather bizarre request, "Given that your nomination came as an afterthought from the Prime Minister and his socialist fellow travellers, when hopefully there is a change of government next year, will you tender your resignation and seek a fresh mandate." He followed that up by asking why the EU was in Afghanistan "to make the streets of the UK safe" when "there are many immigrants coming into the UK illegally from countries that are incubators of terrorism." Ashton batted this aside easily by pointing out that ""I am glad you think I was an afterthought. That is not the discussion I had with the Prime Minister. Can I say your leader was one of the first to congratulate me. I do not think he is seeking my resignation. I still have the voicemail message if you would like to hear it." This was met by silence from Van Orden and laughter from elsewhere. 
 
Although MEPs gave her a warm welcome and enjoyed seeing her sweep away her critics, they did give notice that questions at her hearings would require more solid answers, but she was cut some slack on her second day in the job. She was open about her progress, "My avoidance of answers is not because I do not have views but because it is very very important to make sure that what I say to you is considered and not just a reaction... This is brand new. I do not have an office, I do not have a Cabinet, I do not have a team. I inherited a blank piece of paper and at the moment I have writtten one or two small things on it." 
 
She asked Parliament's help to help fulfil the potential of the job. If she can provide more in depth answers to policy questions when she sits in the Parliament in January, there is every sign that she will win support. Today, she charmed and impressed. Next, she will have to consolidate the impression she made.