Nine in ten want referendum

Nine out of 10 people want a vote on the European Union constitution, two surveys showed today.

The findings put more pressure on Tony Blair to bow to demands for a referendum before he signs up to the controversial blueprint, which includes an EU president.

In the most dramatic challenge, a poll organised by the Daily Mail drew a response from almost 1.7million people. More than 95 per cent of valid ballot papers called for a referendum.

The newspaper also commissioned an opinion poll by ICM which showed that 88 per cent of the public want a national vote on the EU plans.

The twin surveys gave a new headache to Mr Blair, who flies on Thursday to a major EU summit where the draft constitution tops the agenda. He wants to make crucial changes to the document drawn up by former French president ValÈry Giscard d'Estaing, including the scrapping of moves to bind member states to a common foreign policy.

Another key battle loomed over Britain's £2billion rebate from the EU, the annual cashback negotiated by Margaret Thatcher.

It emerged that the Government had failed to notice a clause in the draft constitution which would empower a simple majority of EU states to vote for the abolition of the rebate. It was only noticed by a committee of MPs.

The Foreign Office admitted the language of the document was "ambiguous" and it was urgently investigating.

Other EU countries are desperate to scrap the rebate.

At present, it is protected by the UK veto.

The draft EU constitution is seen by critics as a blueprint for a United States of Europe.

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