UK business leaders oppose EU constitution - poll

British business figures are opposed to the EU constitution, according to a poll published today.

British business figures are opposed to the EU constitution, according to a poll published today.

Tomorrow will be a litmus test for the level of Britain's support when a preliminary parliamentary vote on the signing up to the constitution takes place.

Today's poll conducted by the Institute of Directors (IoD), which groups 54,000 business leaders, showed 49 per cent against and 29 per cent in favour.

It showed 25 per cent saying their voting intention was firmly fixed with 43 per cent "fairly sure, but could be influenced". Some 32 per cent intended to weigh up the arguments before deciding.

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"Businesses are already being strangled by red tape, and there is a very real fear out there that the EU constitution will tie them up further still," said Mr Miles Templeman, director general of the IoD.

The survey makes grim reading for British Prime Minister Tony Blair who controversially supports the treaty that ratified the constitution during Ireland's presidency last year. Britain - the EU's most 'eurosceptic' member - is due to hold a referendum on the issue, probably in 2006.

Mr Blair is on track to the general expected to be called for May 2005. But rejection of the treaty in a referendum would undermine his authority and make a mockery of his pledge to put Britain at Europe's heart.

The treaty must be ratified by all 25 EU member states to come into force. Rejection by any member could in theory scupper the charter agreed by the bloc's leaders last June.

Opponents of the treaty - drawn up to ensure the efficient administration of the recently enlarged EU - say it would create a federal superstate, forcing member states to surrender control of many key policy areas to Brussels.