Blair takes EU argument to France

Tony Blair risked a clash with Jacques Chirac today by arguing the case for his European Union referendum in a French newspaper.

His cross-Channel intervention was likely to increase pressure on the French president to announce a similar national vote on the planned European constitution.

It came as a new poll claimed British business leaders have turned sharply against the EU, putting the chances of a Yes vote in Britain into greater jeopardy. The survey of 1,000 chief executives said two thirds were against the plan.

In a front-page article for Le Monde headlined "My Europe", Mr Blair defended his decision to hold a referendum and said he was sorry the move had been seen "in such a bad light".

"It is impossible to argue intelligently when the debate centres not on the merits of the planned constitution, but on whether there is good reason to consult the people on the subject," he wrote.

Mr Chirac has held out against calls for a French referendum, fearing it could turn into a protest vote against his government or against the idea of EU enlargement. Many EU leaders fear No votes in both Britain and France would kill the constitution for good.

Mr Blair said it was time to argue the case for Europe. He insisted the 10 new states joining this weekend would strengthen the EU, while Turkey's planned membership would "provide a bridge to the Islamic world".

"By their experience and determination they will breathe a new energy into the European Union and step up the pace of modernisation for the great benefit of all," he said. Mr Blair is due to host a party to celebrate the accession of the new states at the Foreign Office tonight.

In today's poll of business leaders, carried out by ICM for the Eurosceptic think-tank New Frontiers, 73 per cent of companies which trade heavily with Europe said they would vote No if there was a referendum now. In 1997 three-quarters of business leaders were in favour of the euro, but now 52 per cent said the pound should stay.