LAST CALL FOR THE ORIENT EXPRESS:

British move to suspend vote deepens European rift (Rosemary Bennett and Anthony Browne, 6/03/05, Times of London)

BRITAIN is leading moves to shelve the European constitution until EU leaders agree a way forward after the emphatic “no” vote in France and the Netherlands.

Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, is expected to tell MPs on Monday that legislation paving the way for a British referendum will be suspended until there is “clarity” from EU leaders.

Officials in Brussels fear that suspending the ratification process is tantamount to killing it, and European leaders have demanded that the process continue despite the defeats.

But other countries facing tough referendum battles signalled that they may follow Britain’s lead, deepening the rifts within the Union.

At Downing Street next week Tony Blair will meet Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the Danish Prime Minister, who is said to be “sympathetic” to calls for a postponement.

Denmark is due to hold a referendum in September, but a poll last night showed that the “yes” camp’s eight-point lead has suddenly turned into a nine-point deficit.

The funny thing is that they know it will keep losing, the French just don't want to be the only ones with bloody hands.

Posted by Orrin Judd at June 2, 2005 11:01 PM