Gordon Brown yesterday ruled out holding a referendum on a new European constitutional treaty as part of a wide-ranging package of reforms to give "more power to Parliament and the British people".Gordon Brown is expected to sign a new treaty incorporating the bulk of the EU constitution
In his first Commons statement as Prime Minister, Mr Brown offered to give up powers ranging from appointing bishops to declaring war and hinted that general elections could be held at weekends. But he excluded two pressing constitutional issues from his package of reforms: the growing demand for "English votes for English laws" to balance devolution to Scotland and Wales and Labour's manifesto commitment at the last election to hold a referendum on the European Union constitution.
Later this year, Mr Brown is expected to sign a new treaty incorporating the bulk of the EU constitution - including a new foreign policy chief, a permanent president and the surrender of 52 national vetoes - rejected by voters in France and Holland in 2005.
The deal - struck by Tony Blair as one of his last acts as Prime Minister - has led to a campaign calling for a referendum on the issue.
David Cameron, the Conservative leader, while welcoming many of the reforms, challenged Mr Brown to hold a referendum on the treaty, which he said involved the further transfer of power from Westminster to Brussels.
"It should be put to the people," Mr Cameron said.
Mr Brown said that only one of the EU's 27 members - Ireland - had so far proposed a referendum. Parliament, he said, would have the explicit power to ratify the treaty. The last Conservative government did not hold a referendum on the Maastricht Treaty in 1992 or previous treaties, he said.
Earlier, during Foreign Office questions in the Commons, Tory MPs highlighted Government confusion over the status of the proposed EU treaty, saying that one of Mr Brown's new ministers had labelled it a constitution.
Mark Francois, the Tory spokesman on Europe, said Sir Digby Jones, the business minister, had said the treaty was a constitution and to suggest otherwise was a "con". But Jim Murphy, the Europe minister, said the "constitutional element" had been abandoned in the new treaty.
| more at the link, including details of the 'English votes for English laws' issue |