EU constitution on hold, says Blair

Tony Blair today prepared to report to MPs on the collapse of a critical EU summit - which, for the time being at least, appeared to have taken the Euro-heat off his government.

The Prime Minister was expected to make clear in a Commons statement this afternoon that the controversial plan for a new constitution was now on hold for months and quite possibly years to come. And, to the relief of Downing Street, the blame did not lie with London.

The British team returned from Brussels on Saturday from a summit wrecked by a dispute between France and Germany on one side and Poland and Spain on the other.

Britain was officially neutral in the row which saw the smaller nations holding out for stronger voting rights when the EU is enlarged next year from 15 members to 25.

But there was barely concealed suspicion and anger from France and Germany at suggestions that Mr Blair had been egging on the Polish resistance.

There were continuing suspicions from the Tories and others that the "red lines" set by Mr Blair to maintain Britain's right of veto on tax, foreign policy and other key issues were still in danger.

And there was also continuing pressure for a referendum on the constitution amid suggestions that the Prime Minister was ready to concede a demand he has always resisted until now.