[autom.vertaling] Blair sluit referendum over de Grondwet van de EU uit (en)

The British Prime Minister Tony Blair has ruled out a referendum on the EU Constitution. Speaking in an interview with the Times, Mr Blair said it would "not be a wise thing" to have the Government "convulsed" for months preparing for a referendum on the issue.

"Lots of countries have traditions of holding referendums on these issues but we do not. Actually the majority of the countries in the European Union are not geared to having a referendum", Mr Blair told the Times, quoted by IC Wales.

He added: "It is only here that we are taken as having sold something out. We have not. Foreign policy, defence, tax all remain the prerogatives of the nation state".

British Conservatives, the main opposition party, are putting pressure on the Prime Minister to call a referendum by organising petitions on the topic across Britain.