Michael Howard has pledged to seek an early public rejection of the European Union constitution if he wins the next general election.

In an interview with the Telegraph on Saturday, the Conservative chief said he would hold a referendum on the issue by October 2005.

And the party would campaign for a "no" vote, putting an end to plans to ratify the treaty, he said.

The move is being seen as a bid to win back support from the anti-EU UK Independence Party and to rally the party faithful.

"I will campaign for a no vote," pledged Howard.  "I am confident we will get a no vote.

"I will then go to the EU with a double mandate - a general election mandate and a referendum mandate.

"I would say we are against the constitution. The constitution is dead."

Howard said that a government led by him would "start bringing back powers to Britain from Brussels".

"I am fed up with the state of affairs where Britain is always saying 'no' to the countries of Europe," he added.

"So let's reach an agreement - you can do what you want to do. And if you want to integrate more closely, that's fine by us - as long as you don't make us do what we don't want to do."

The comments provoked criticism from Labour, with foreign secretary Jack Straw accusing Howard a "desperate" response to the Hartlepool poll.

"It shows more than ever that in pandering to those who want to see Britain withdraw from the EU, Michael Howard is more concerned with narrow party interests than the interests of Britain," he
said.

"If Michael Howard should have learned anything from the European election campaign it is that these tactics of appeasement are self-defeating for the Conservative Party."