Euro poll rules 'unfair'

Pressure mounted on the Government today to change the "unfair" rules for the referendum on the European constitution.

The election watchdog said the existing rules for such polls are biased for the Government.

Sam Younger, chairman of the Electoral Commission, said it was wrong ministers could spend millions of pounds promoting the advantages of the constitution when opponents were subject to a spending cap.

His comments came the day after Vote No, the anti-constitution campaign, announced it would be challenging the rules in the courts. Foreign Secretary Jack Straw revealed last month that the referendum will take place in "early 2006".