Britse denktank: "Geef Tony Blair geen rol in referendumcampagne voor Europese Grondwet" (en)

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair could be an obstacle in the campaign to persuade the British people to vote "yes" to the new European Constitution, according to new research.

A report by the Foreign Policy Centre (FPC) - a pro-European think tank - warns that Mr Blair's credibility - severely damaging by the decision to go to war in Iraq - is not strong enough to swing voters across to the "yes" side.

The campaign should be led instead by finance minister Gordon Brown, along with External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten (from a different party to Mr Blair) and pro-European Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy, says the FPC.

The think tank unveiled new polling data showing that two thirds of voters (65 percent) are undecided how they will vote in a referendum on the European Constitution.

However, the "no" campaign are well ahead at present, with 50 percent of people saying they would vote no in a popular vote, compared to 31 percent saying yes.