A claim by the president of the European Central Bank that the euro currency is not in crisis has been called “absurd” by Conservative MP Bill Cash.

NICK CLEGG yesterday offered sweeping voting reforms but Britain’s deputy prime minister admitted they may never come to fruition because of differences with his coalition partners.

The controversial Lisbon Treaty reaches its final UK parliamentary hurdle today - amid claims the deal is already dead.

British Conservative party leader David Cameron is coming under increasing pressure from his own MPs to promise a referendum on the EU Reform Treaty – even if it is ratified before the Tories come to power.

Britain's Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said he was personally saddened by the rejection of the European constitutional treaty and called for a “period of reflection”.