Jack Straw

Jack Straw has unveiled the legislation which will pave the way for a referendum on the new European constitutional treaty.

While the bill sets out the question to be asked, it does not fix the date for the nationwide poll.

But privately the government is preparing the ground for a referendum in early to mid-2006.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the foreign secretary said there was a "patriotic case" in favour of Britain's continued engagement with the EU.

But the UK Independence Party threatened to turn the referendum into a vote on "who governs Britain?"

The SNP also warned that the constitution as it stands "must be renegotiated".

However, Straw insisted that the document "reflects a British vision for Europe".

"Agreed by 25 freely-cooperating, independent nations, the constitution limits and fixes the EU's powers, while making it a more flexible and more efficient organisation," he said.

"It gives national governments in Europe a stronger grip; streamlines the European Commission; and allows for better scrutiny by national parliaments of EU legislation.

"Crucially, it gives greater coherence to Europe's dealings with the rest of the world on those issues where all its members states are of the same mind."

And he warned that a "no" vote would leave Britain "isolated and weak in Europe".

The UK could be forced to "accept some kind of second-class status in Europe as others go ahead without us".

Nationwide poll

The treaty legislation, which will be piloted through parliament by the Foreign Office, will be ratified by parliament before the final decision is handed to the public through a referendum.

It was confirmed the question will be: "Should the United Kingdom approve the treaty establishing a constitution for the European Union?"

In a statement, the independent Electoral Commission said it would now be assessing the intelligibility of the referendum question.

The watchdog is to look at whether it presents the options clearly, simply and neutrally.

The prime minister insists the new European constitution is essential if the EU is to function effectively with 25 members.

And pro-Europe groups have welcomed the government's decision to set out the legislation before the general election.

But they will be looking for the government to begin campaigning for a "yes" vote in the 2006 poll.

Debate

Lucy Powell, campaign director of Britain in Europe, said: "We look forward to a proper debate on the treaty and the proposals it contains.

"We hope the parliamentary debate will provide - for the first time - an opportunity for the public to hear both sides of the story."

But representatives of the "no" camp have accused ministers of attempting to duck debate by "sneaking out" the legislation.

"The reality is that the government doesn't want to discuss the EU constitution ahead of the election because they know it is extremely unpopular with voters and with business," said campaign director Neil O'Brien.

"Some 69 per cent of voters and 60 per cent of business leaders are against signing up to the EU constitution.

"But instead of listening, the government is planning to spend large amounts of taxpayers money trying to sell the EU constitution to voters."

Treaty doubts

UKIP leader Roger Knapman said that while the question was neutrally worded, it raised questions about what would happen if there was a "no" vote.

"How can the government expect the electorate to make an informed decision if it deliberately clouds the meaning of the answer it doesn’t want?" he asked.

"Mr Straw has already launched the government’s mis-information campaign, claiming that voting for an end to self-government is somehow patriotic.

"If the consequence of a 'no' vote is an end to British membership of the EU, then isn't Mr Blair proposing to ask the wrong question?

"Surely this is an excellent opportunity to answer the most pressing question of our age, and let the electorate decide ‘who governs Britain?'"

Fishing question

For the Scottish nationalists, foreign affairs spokesman Angus Robertson called for a renegotiation of the constitution.

"This referendum is an ideal way of returning the debate over Scotland's future relationship with our European partnership to the heart of Scottish political debate," he said.

"However the constitution as it stands must be renegotiated.

"The decision to make fisheries an exclusive competence of the EU is unacceptable.

"The common fisheries policy has been bad for our fishing communities, bad for the environment and bad for our relationship with Europe."

Pressure

As the legislation proceeds through parliament the "no" campaign will also step up the pressure on the government following claims it will seek to outspend those opposed to the constitution.

Currently the law limits the spending of independent "yes" and "no" campaigners for up to six months, but the government can spend as much taxpayers' money as it likes until 28 days before the referendum.

Critics fear that ministers will attempt to promote a "yes" vote under the guise of publicising the looming referendum.