Unveiled: the question for UK poll on EU

The Government will kick off its campaign for the EU constitution next week by publishing the question voters will face at the referendum in March 2006.

The Evening Standard can reveal the ballot papers will ask: "Should the United Kingdom approve the Treaty establishing a Constitution for the European Union?".

Details will be announced next week at the first reading of the European Treaty Bill.

Tony Blair wants to use Britain's presidency of the EU in the second half of this year to soften up domestic opposition to the treaty.

Opinion polls have shown the majority of Britons opposed to the constitution. Tory leader Michael Howard has called it a "ball and chain" for UK business.

But Mr Blair and supporters of the "yes" campaign say Britain would retain its veto on "the most important decisions'', including tax and foreign and defence policy.