BRITAIN: British voters are likely to be given the opportunity to vote in a referendum on the planned European Union constitution, a move that would mark a major U-turn by the government, according to media reports yesterday.
The EU constitution, yet to be finalised, is aimed at ensuring the smooth running of the Union after it expands from 15 to 25 members in May. Once agreed, it has to be approved unanimously by the 15 existing members and 10 newcomers.
Labour Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair has so far resisted calls from the opposition Conservatives to put the issue before the public, arguing that ratification by parliament is sufficient.
Mr Blair's critics say he has refused a referendum because he fears a largely eurosceptic public would oppose it.
Speculation has grown following an interview on Saturday when Mr Blair refused to rule out a referendum. "Our policy has not changed and if there is any question of it changing, I can assure you we will tell you. You will have to wait and see," Blair told BBC radio.
The BBC said yesterday it had learnt Mr Blair had now agreed to hold a referendum and an official announcement would be made this week, possibly after a cabinet meeting on Thursday.
However Mr Blair's Downing Street office said the government's position was unchanged and it had nothing to add to the comments made on Saturday.
The Observer newspaper said a pledge to allow a vote would probably be contained in the Labour Party's manifesto and it would be held after the next general election, expected next year.
The Sunday Telegraph said senior ministers and advisers had last week urged Mr Blair to agree to a referendum. "Tony has crossed the line. It's now really a question of timing," an unnamed Cabinet minister was quoted as saying in the paper.
Some observers say the talk may be a tactic to take the steam out of the opposition's call for a referendum ahead of June's European elections when Mr Blair's Labour Party is set to get a drubbing.
The EU Commissioner for External Relations, Mr Chris Patten, said in Kildare yesterday that referendums were "populist devices" and he would be opposed to any move by the British government to have a popular vote on the proposed European Constitutional Treaty.
Mr Patten said: "I'm against referendums. I'm a Tory. I'm in favour of resolving these issues through parliament. I think referendums are populist devices and I'm not surprised that they were so popular with Hitler and Mussolini." Mr Patten was attending a meeting of Asian and European foreign ministers at the K Club.