EU constitution - Next week’s summit must face reality

It was hardly unexpected that the British Government decided not to visit the issue of a referendum on the EU constitution, but the statement from Foreign Secretary Jack Straw conveyed a message that he did not put into words.

Deferring legislation for next spring’s planned referendum, in the wake of the French and Dutch rejection of the treaty, signals British belief that there will ultimately be nothing to vote on.

With such decisive decisions by founder members France and Holland, followed by Britain’s expediency of deferral in the hope of eventually avoiding the issue, next week’s summit of EU heads of government will have to face reality.