This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/6761025.stm
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Brown 'could hold EU referendum' | Brown 'could hold EU referendum' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Prime Minister-in-waiting Gordon Brown could still hold a referendum on the future of the EU, Europe Minister Geoff Hoon has said. | Prime Minister-in-waiting Gordon Brown could still hold a referendum on the future of the EU, Europe Minister Geoff Hoon has said. |
| "Clearly a judgement has got to be made in terms of what is in the final package," Mr Hoon told the BBC. | "Clearly a judgement has got to be made in terms of what is in the final package," Mr Hoon told the BBC. |
| But the revised EU treaty would have to be in Britain's national interests for the government to accept it, Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said. | But the revised EU treaty would have to be in Britain's national interests for the government to accept it, Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said. |
| Germany is pushing for a deal at a leaders' summit this week. | Germany is pushing for a deal at a leaders' summit this week. |
| Their planned changes would preserve the substance of the original constitution document. | Their planned changes would preserve the substance of the original constitution document. |
| 'Strong differences' | 'Strong differences' |
| The UK will not accept "cosmetic change" to the treaty, which was rejected in 2005. | The UK will not accept "cosmetic change" to the treaty, which was rejected in 2005. |
| Mrs Beckett added that member states still had "strong differences" over the treaty. | Mrs Beckett added that member states still had "strong differences" over the treaty. |
| She told the BBC's Sunday AM programme: "We do not want to see a constitutional treaty or a treaty that has the characteristics of a constitution. | She told the BBC's Sunday AM programme: "We do not want to see a constitutional treaty or a treaty that has the characteristics of a constitution. |
| We're not interested in doing things for the sake of cosmetic change Margaret BeckettForeign Secretary | We're not interested in doing things for the sake of cosmetic change Margaret BeckettForeign Secretary |
| "We will look at anything that will tidy up the rule book of the EU now that we are 27 and not 12 or 15 [member states]. | "We will look at anything that will tidy up the rule book of the EU now that we are 27 and not 12 or 15 [member states]. |
| "But we will look at it on the basis of does this work for Britain, is this in our national interests and will it make the European Union more effective as an operation." | "But we will look at it on the basis of does this work for Britain, is this in our national interests and will it make the European Union more effective as an operation." |
| German Chancellor Angela Merkel wants to steer EU leaders towards a new treaty which will give the EU a "single legal personality" and a legally-binding Charter of Fundamental Rights. | German Chancellor Angela Merkel wants to steer EU leaders towards a new treaty which will give the EU a "single legal personality" and a legally-binding Charter of Fundamental Rights. |
| This could give British workers new rights to go on strike. | This could give British workers new rights to go on strike. |
| There is also the prospect of more majority voting including in criminal law and foreign policy - both areas where Prime Minister Tony Blair has pledged to preserve British sovereignty. | There is also the prospect of more majority voting including in criminal law and foreign policy - both areas where Prime Minister Tony Blair has pledged to preserve British sovereignty. |
| Margaret Beckett told her colleagues a referendum would be extremely hard to win in Britain BBC Europe editor Mark Mardell href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markmardell/2007/06/17/index.html">Read Mark's thoughts in full | |
| The constitution was signed by EU member states in 2004, but was rejected by French and Dutch voters in referendums in 2005. | The constitution was signed by EU member states in 2004, but was rejected by French and Dutch voters in referendums in 2005. |
| Prime Minister Tony Blair promised a public vote on the EU constitution in 2004 - before it was rejected by France and Holland, but Downing St has indicated that that has now been dropped. | Prime Minister Tony Blair promised a public vote on the EU constitution in 2004 - before it was rejected by France and Holland, but Downing St has indicated that that has now been dropped. |
| Shadow foreign secretary William Hague welcomed the news that there could now be a referendum. | Shadow foreign secretary William Hague welcomed the news that there could now be a referendum. |
| "If this is a U-turn by ministers it will be a very welcome one. Labour promised a referendum on the EU constitution and it would be utterly unacceptable for them to break their word," he said. | "If this is a U-turn by ministers it will be a very welcome one. Labour promised a referendum on the EU constitution and it would be utterly unacceptable for them to break their word," he said. |
| Have you met Gordon Brown on the campaign trail or elsewhere? Send us your experiences using the form below. You can also email photos to: yourpic@bbc.co.uk. | Have you met Gordon Brown on the campaign trail or elsewhere? Send us your experiences using the form below. You can also email photos to: yourpic@bbc.co.uk. |
| Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video | Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video |