BRITAIN/EU Constitution: Britain is expected to consign the European Union constitution to limbo today after voters in France and the Netherlands overwhelmingly rejected it.
But, afraid of being the first government to publicly declare it dead and therefore bear the blame for its demise, the move is likely to take the form of an indefinite postponement of the government Bill paving the way for a promised referendum.
A spokeswoman for prime minister Tony Blair said yesterday that foreign secretary Jack Straw would make a statement on the constitution to parliament today, but following parliamentary protocol she declined to hint at its content.
Mr Blair was yesterday urged by his old ally, Peter Mandelson, to stay on as prime minister in order to sort out the crisis in the EU following the French and Dutch No votes.
Mr Mandelson suggested that Mr Blair could continue for "the next two to three years".
It had been widely expected Mr Blair would stand down after the UK referendum, which had been due to take place early next year, to make way for chancellor Gordon Brown.
However, Mr Mandelson - who is now Britain's EU commissioner - said events in Europe could give him a "fresh calling".
"What he's got to do is help other European member states and heads of government come to terms with what's happened, understand, realise how Europe's got to move to a different place if it's going to overcome that malaise about Europe that exists amongst the public," he told ITV1's Jonathan Dimbleby programme.
"I think he can help do that, so I think that he's got a great contribution to make." Mr Mandelson's comments are likely to infuriate his long-time rival, Mr Brown. Although Mr Blair has said he intends to serve a full third term, most MPs expect him to stand down long before then.
Earlier, Downing Street reacted coolly to a call from French president Jacques Chirac and Germany's chancellor Gerhard Schröder for the process of ratifying the constitutional treaty to continue, despite the French and Dutch votes.
"We have set out our position and we believe that it is necessary to have a period of reflection leading up to the discussions at the council of ministers on June 16th," a No 10 spokeswoman said.
Following talks in Berlin between the French and German leaders, Mr Chirac's spokesman, Jerome Bonnafont, made clear that countries like Britain, which are planning referendums on the constitution, should go ahead.
Despite this plea, Mr Straw's statement to the Commons tomorrow - announcing that the Referendum Bill is being put on indefinite hold - is expected effectively to sound the final death knell for the constitution. - (PA/Reuters)