Reply #14: Well, it IS confirmed now [View All]

[T_i_B]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3640949.stm

Tony Blair says a referendum is to be held on the new European constitution - but he has not named the date for a poll. For months the prime minister has denied the need for a vote, but on Tuesday he conceded it was time to "let the people have a final say".

He said MPs would debate the issue ahead of any poll - which is unlikely to be before the next general election.

Outlining his radical U-turn, Mr Blair told MPs it was time to resolve "once and for all" whether Britain wanted to be at the centre of Europe or not.

In a Commons statement, he said Parliament should debate the constitution question "in detail and decide upon it" and "then let the people have the final say".