UK shelves EU treaty vote plans

[cal04]

Downing Street has confirmed the UK has put on ice plans for a referendum next spring on the European constitution. It comes after "No" votes in France and the Netherlands which analysts said had effectively killed the treaty.

Tony Blair's spokesman said: "We are in uncertain times and we do not proceed until we have got certainty." French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder are urging other members, including the UK, to continue the ratification process. EU leaders are preparing for a summit next week to discuss how to proceed.

'It is over'
Foreign Secretary Jack Straw will go to the House of Commons on Monday afternoon to officially announce to MPs he is no longer planning to introduce a parliamentary bill paving the way for a referendum to be held next spring.
However, this does not mean legislation for a referendum later in 2006 could not be introduced at a future date.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4612021.stm

[BooScout]

1. They never.....

Thought it would pass anyway. That's why they sat back and let the other countries take the lead in voting.

[snot]

2. If you appreciate the BBC as we've known it, PLS go to this link:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=203&topic_id=376080&mesg_id=376080