Blair hints at second poll

Tony Blair today hinted he will hold a second referendum on the EU constitution if the public votes No.

He made the apparent admission after coming under heavy pressure from Tory leader Michael Howard to clarify the Government's stance. It came after a series of apocalyptic but confusing claims by Downing Street and ministers about the consequences for Britain in the event of a No vote.

Earlier, Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt claimed in a radio interview it would mean being relegated to the sidelines of Europe, with associate membership at best or even being forced to leave altogether.

But Mr Blair rowed back from the doom-laden warning in the Commons. Asked by Mr Howard whether he would veto the constitution treaty or attempt to renegotiate it, the Prime Minister

replied that he would be "in exactly the same position as Ireland" when its public rejected the Nice Treaty two years ago.

The point seized on by Tories was that the Irish government called a second referendum and eventually secured a Yes vote.

"If we were in government we would sit down obviously and discuss the way forward with other countries," Mr Blair said.

He turned the tables on Mr Howard and accused him of obscuring whether he would reject the treaty if there was a No vote or was keeping open the option of amending the treaty.

Earlier, Mr Blair came under savage attack from former Deputy Prime Minister Michael Heseltine who branded his referendum U-turn as "appalling and irresponsible" and said the premier was "losing control".

In a withering snub, the ardently pro-European former Tory deputy prime minister refused to share a platform with a prime minister he now regarded as weak and untrustworthy.

"I was certainly prepared to fight alongside him when we were contemplating a referendum on the euro," he said.

"I am not sure that any longer I feel I can sit on the same platform with members of a government who seem so indecisive and incapable of maintaining a position."

Lord Heseltine said Mr Blair had " capitulated" to the Eurosceptic media, implying the national vote was a favour to secure the support of tycoon Rupert Murdoch. He predicted the referendum would be a fiasco, driven by scare stories and black propaganda.

His intervention is a fresh bodyblow to Mr Blair, who was being bitterly criticised today by fellow European leaders and some Labour MPs. Lord Heseltine and ex-chancellor Kenneth Clarke were among a handful of leading pro-EU Conservatives who broke party ranks by sitting alongside Mr Blair when he said he wanted to join the single currency.

It now looks as though Mr Blair will be on his own. EU Commissioner Neil Kinnock also made clear he opposed the referendum.