Joint party bid to fight EU treaty

The Conservatives confirmed today they were prepared to join forces with the UK Independence Party to defeat the new EU constitution.

Shadow foreign secretary Michael Ancram said his party would share a platform with UKIP during the referendum campaign on the treaty.

At the launch of a booklet setting out Tory objections to the constitution, Mr Ancram pledged to work with "all interested parties" including political, academic and industrial for the No campaign, but made clear the party would not forge a formal alliance with UKIP.