Blair confirms EU constitution poll

[MIKE BURN]

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Blair confirms EU constitution poll



BBC/London, Tuesday, 20 April, 2004, 17:45 GMT 18:45 UK





(Mr Blair has bowed to pressure)



Tony Blair says a referendum is to be held on the new European constitution - but he has not named the date for a poll.

For months the prime minister has denied the need for a vote, but on Tuesday he conceded it was time to "let the people have a final say".



He said MPs would debate the issue ahead of any poll - which is unlikely to be before the next general election.



But Michael Howard asked the PM: "Who will ever trust you again?"



Wide implications



A referendum on a constitution would be the first major gauge of public opinion on the EU since the 1975 referendum on whether Britain should stay in the Common Market.



Outlining his radical U-turn, Mr Blair told MPs it was time to resolve "once and for all" whether Britain wanted to be at the centre of Europe or not.



In a Commons statement, he said Parliament should debate the constitution question "in detail and decide upon it" and "then let the people have the final say".



"The question will be on the treaty, but the implications go far wider," he said.

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