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Blair gambles on EU referendum
LONDON (Reuters) - Prime Minister Tony Blair has pledged to give voters a referendum on an EU constitution, a major political gamble that could threaten his future and perhaps even torpedo the charter.
His policy U-turn was greeted with concern in some European quarters -- to enter into force, the constitution must be ratified by all 25 member states of the new enlarged European Union that comes into being on May 1.
With opinion polls showing voters are highly wary of closer integration with the EU, one senior politician in the bloc accused Blair of putting domestic politics before the interests of the Union and endangering the constitution.
Blair told parliament his Labour government was ready to do battle in a referendum with the Conservatives, who oppose an EU constitution as a threat to Britain's sovereignty.
Announcing a referendum would take place after parliament had "debated and decided", Blair said: "Then let the people have the final say. Let the issue be put. Let the battle be joined."
Previously Blair had said a constitution, likely to be sealed by EU leaders at a summit in June, would not fundamentally alter Britain's ties with the bloc and therefore public approval would not be needed.
Blair's public trust ratings have plunged since he became U.S. President George W. Bush's closest ally over Iraq, leaving the man who vowed to put Britain at the heart of Europe badly placed to swing mass opinion.
POLLSTERS SAY MAJORITY OF BRITONS OPPOSED
"The majority of the public are against (an EU constitution)...and it's going to take a lot to persuade them to vote for it," said Roger Mortimore of pollsters MORI.
Talks on the constitution collapsed at an EU summit last December. But a change of government in Spain -- one of the major objectors -- has helped revive negotiations.
Blair has pledged to keep unilateral control of areas like taxation, defence and foreign policy.
Denmark and Ireland will hold ballots and others, including the Netherlands, Poland, and Spain, are almost certain to do so.
If any one of the 25 EU members does not ratify the constitution, there could either be a new vote or the treaty would need renegotiating.
Critics said Blair was acting out of domestic political expediency -- neutralising a potentially damaging issue until after a general election expected in May 2005.
Even if a deal were struck, parliamentary scrutiny would not start until late this year and would take several months. Government insiders expect no referendum until late in 2005.
"The head of government of a major European country should not endanger such a central project as the EU constitution purely out of domestic political calculations," said Germany's Ingo Friedrich, Vice President of the European Parliament.
Germany's Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper accused Blair of jeopardising the constitution, predicting he would lose a vote.
"A British referendum will not only decide the political fate of Tony Blair. It will decide the fate of the European Union," it said.
Emil Kirchner, professor of European studies at Essex University, said: "It's a risky procedure (Blair is) taking... If he loses, it would be his defining moment. I think he would leave the scene."
But Foreign Minister Jack Straw told BBC radio Blair would not be forced to resign if there was a "No" vote.
Britain's ambivalence on the EU has been shaped by past wars with European nations, an island mentality, self-confidence born of victory in World War Two and earlier empire building, strong Anglo-American ties and distaste for "Brussels bureaucrats".
The Europe debate plagued Blair's two immediate predecessors -- John Major and Margaret Thatcher -- and tore apart the Conservatives, in power for 18 years before Blair's 1997 win.
LONDON (Reuters) - Prime Minister Tony Blair has pledged to give voters a referendum on an EU constitution, a major political gamble that could threaten his future and perhaps even torpedo the charter.
His policy U-turn was greeted with concern in some European quarters -- to enter into force, the constitution must be ratified by all 25 member states of the new enlarged European Union that comes into being on May 1.
With opinion polls showing voters are highly wary of closer integration with the EU, one senior politician in the bloc accused Blair of putting domestic politics before the interests of the Union and endangering the constitution.
Blair told parliament his Labour government was ready to do battle in a referendum with the Conservatives, who oppose an EU constitution as a threat to Britain's sovereignty.
Announcing a referendum would take place after parliament had "debated and decided", Blair said: "Then let the people have the final say. Let the issue be put. Let the battle be joined."
Previously Blair had said a constitution, likely to be sealed by EU leaders at a summit in June, would not fundamentally alter Britain's ties with the bloc and therefore public approval would not be needed.
Blair's public trust ratings have plunged since he became U.S. President George W. Bush's closest ally over Iraq, leaving the man who vowed to put Britain at the heart of Europe badly placed to swing mass opinion.
POLLSTERS SAY MAJORITY OF BRITONS OPPOSED
"The majority of the public are against (an EU constitution)...and it's going to take a lot to persuade them to vote for it," said Roger Mortimore of pollsters MORI.
Talks on the constitution collapsed at an EU summit last December. But a change of government in Spain -- one of the major objectors -- has helped revive negotiations.
Blair has pledged to keep unilateral control of areas like taxation, defence and foreign policy.
Denmark and Ireland will hold ballots and others, including the Netherlands, Poland, and Spain, are almost certain to do so.
If any one of the 25 EU members does not ratify the constitution, there could either be a new vote or the treaty would need renegotiating.
Critics said Blair was acting out of domestic political expediency -- neutralising a potentially damaging issue until after a general election expected in May 2005.
Even if a deal were struck, parliamentary scrutiny would not start until late this year and would take several months. Government insiders expect no referendum until late in 2005.
"The head of government of a major European country should not endanger such a central project as the EU constitution purely out of domestic political calculations," said Germany's Ingo Friedrich, Vice President of the European Parliament.
Germany's Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper accused Blair of jeopardising the constitution, predicting he would lose a vote.
"A British referendum will not only decide the political fate of Tony Blair. It will decide the fate of the European Union," it said.
Emil Kirchner, professor of European studies at Essex University, said: "It's a risky procedure (Blair is) taking... If he loses, it would be his defining moment. I think he would leave the scene."
But Foreign Minister Jack Straw told BBC radio Blair would not be forced to resign if there was a "No" vote.
Britain's ambivalence on the EU has been shaped by past wars with European nations, an island mentality, self-confidence born of victory in World War Two and earlier empire building, strong Anglo-American ties and distaste for "Brussels bureaucrats".
The Europe debate plagued Blair's two immediate predecessors -- John Major and Margaret Thatcher -- and tore apart the Conservatives, in power for 18 years before Blair's 1997 win.
