Briton leads competition

A British man is tipped to take over one of the most powerful jobs in the European Commission.

Sources at the commission said Philip Lowe would become director general of the competition department and deputy to Mario Monti, the competition commissioner.

The department is one of the most powerful parts of the European Union executive, making decisions on company mergers, imposing fines for price-fixing and ruling on state aid.

Mr Lowe joined the European Commission in 1973 and is currently the head of cabinet for vice president, Neil Kinnock.

His appointment to the competition department is expected to be approved on Wednesday.