It has to pass through both Houses of Parliament and I think it is preferable to do that than to have a situation, as I know some of the Conservatives and Eurosceptics want, where we literally for the next few months in the country debate the intricacies of the constitution.”December 2003″Let’s wait and see what we get as to the European constitution.”March 2004″In any debate in the country the choice is absolutely fundamental: it is between those who want to renegotiate Britain’s essential terms of entry and those who believe Britain’s future lies in Europe. And I believe that is a debate we can and will win.”April 2004″Our policy has not changed and if there is any question of it changing I can assure you we will tell you”. A poll on the Euro could come in the first half of the next parliament. And a failure on the constitution would make it doubly hard for the Government to rally support for a single currency.THE PRIME MINISTER’S CHANGING RHETORIC17 October 2003″There will not be a referendum. Mr Blair told Charles Kennedy in private that a poll could take six months out of the Government’s schedule. To hold a poll before the election would be seen by many as an opportunity to vote “no” and give Mr Blair a bloody nose.

It is likely to be called after the election, following a Labour manifesto commitment, when Blair aides believe the Prime Minister will be invigorated by a general election victory.Mr Blair is all too aware that to lose a referendum on the constitution would have dire consequences for a future referendum on the Euro, so timing is crucial. But at least you won’t have the extra stress of having to foot the bill as well. Will they allow the bill ratifying the constitution to go through, following a referendum pledge, or continue to oppose it?The text of a new EU constitution is expected to be approved by EU governments in June when Spain and Poland – which opposed a deal at December’s summit in Brussels – are likely to ditch their reservations and come on board.Then the constitution will go to Parliament for ratification where it will face a tough test in the Lords, even though a referendum will deflate opposition among the Liberal Democrats and many independent peers.But this will leave little time for a plebiscite ahead of a general election next year. Some speculate he would have to resign.Despite the augurs of doom, the Prime Minister is said to have begun to shift his position away from a straight refusal after the EU summit last month when he asked for negotiations on the constitution to be completed by June.Mr Blair realised that he could come away from the talks able to claim he had scored key points while standing firm on matters of principle such as tax.That would allow him to deflate Tory arguments that Britain is selling out by backing the constitution.But the reasons for Mr Blair’s change of heart have been domestic. Indeed, many of his advisers have argued against a referendum on purely pragmatic grounds.They believe that to hold a poll, particularly as the Government faces increasing public distrust over Iraq and issues such as tuition fees for students, could turn a referendum on the EU constitution into one on his premiership.To lose a referendum – particularly before the next election – could have dire consequences for his future. The company was ready to negotiate and urged the union to continue “constructive talks”.Interview, page 29. Tony Blair’s decision to ditch his long-held opposition to a referendum on Europe has not only taken the Tories by surprise but many of his MPs.

“We are concerned about purely industrial issues,” he said.The normally moderate white-collar union TSSA is also threatening disruption, arguing that management’s offer is “divisive and derisory”.Network Rail denied there had been a breakdown of talks, as claimed by the RMT. He denied that the threat of industrial action was aimed at forcing the re-nationalisation of the industry. Any action we will take will be aimed at causing the maximum disruption. Our job is to represent working people.”He said there could be six- and 12-hour stoppages, 24-hour strikes on alternate days or 48 hours of action beginning and ending at noon, and causing disruption over three days. Staff who joined after that date get nothing.Mr Crow said: “Management is simply refusing to negotiate over inequalities in the industry … Those employed before 1 April 1996 enjoy an unlimited 75 per cent discount on rail fares, and between 10 and 20 free trips a year.