Britse minister Jack Straw waarschuwt kiezer voor gevolgen van een 'nee' tegen EU-grondwet (en)

The British foreign secretary has spoken out in favour of the European Constitution as the bill paving the way for a referendum comes before the parliament today (26 January).

"If we reject this treaty, Britain will be isolated and weak in Europe - going cap in hand to our partners and may be forced, in time, to accept some kind of second status in Europe as others go ahead without us", Jack Straw was quoted as saying by the BBC.

Mr Straw, known for his euroscepticism, suggested that the Constitution reflects "a British vision for Europe", as it gives "national governments a stronger grip".

"Agreed by 25 freely co-operating, independent nations, the Constitution fixes the EU's power, while making it a more flexible and more efficient organisation", he said.

Date still not clear

The bill to incorporate the Constitution treaty into British law and its adoption by a referendum will be published today.

However, it is still not clear when the referendum will be held.

Cautious about the forthcoming parliamentary elections in Britain, UK Prime Minister Tony Blair refused to pin down the referendum to spring 2006, as suggested by Mr Straw.

The referendum in Britain will be "some time in 2006 but when, I don't know", Mr Blair said in an interview in today's Financial Times.

Too much Europe as a threat

The European Constitution remains a subject of strong opposition in the UK.

The main opposition party, the Conservatives, argue that it would mean giving more power to Brussels, and "that is bad for jobs and bad for prosperity", their spokesman said, according to the BBC.

Mr Straw accused opponents of the treaty of "wrapping themselves in the union flag in order to paint Europe as a threat to Britain's national sovereignty".

For the Constitution to come into place, all 25 member states have to ratify it. So far, just Lithuania and Hungary have done it via their parliaments.

Britain is among those countries - along with Denmark and the Czech Republic - where there is a high chance of the Charter being rejected.