European Union Constitution Treaty: Perilous to Say No

Lucky Lithuanians: they were the first of the European Union’s twenty-five member states to ratify the treaty for the new constitution, and by parliamentary process, not a referendum. Ten other members will have referendums, starting this month with Spain. Spain first. Britain last?

The World Today
4 minute READ

We know that the British referendum on the European Constitution will not be held before the general election, expected in the first half of the year, and is unlikely to be held during Britain’s presidency of the European Union (EU) in the second half. Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, has said it will be in the first part of 2006. But that has been queried by those Downing Street sources I was once a part of, and by those Treasury sources which can leave you scarred for life.

Subscribe to read all issues

Articles from the current issue are free to read by all, the archive is exclusive to magazine subscribers and our members. Subscribe or become a member to view articles from the archive.