Short widens split over Europe

Clare Short today entered the row over the EU constitution and attacked Europe for trying to become a superstate.

Her outspoken comments came after Tony Blair and Jack Straw frantically tried to patch up a public split over whether Britain might veto the constitution.

Ms Short, an ally of Chancellor Gordon Brown, said she was coming to the view that the Government should hold a referendum on the constitution - a move Mr Blair has bitterly opposed.

The Chancellor's influence lay behind the Government's increasingly euro-sceptic tone, she said.

She added: "It may well be that the new stance is part of a careful pre-election repositioning, but it also reflects the fact that Tony Blair is more driven by posture than careful consideration of the crucial details of proposed EU powers."

The row came as the European Commission failed in a bid to impose punishments on France and Germany for ignoring strict rules governing the single currency zone.

In a move which may force up interest rates in the eurozone, EU ministers, including Mr Brown, decided to suspend the punishments which are designed to prevent countries borrowing too heavily and putting stability at risk.

The decision was widely seen as a political fudge to placate the Franco-German axis.