David Cameron, the Conservative leader, launched a venomous attack on Tony Blair in the House of Commons today for what he claimed was a "flagrant" breach of the Government's promise to hold a referendum before transferring constitutional powers to the European Union.

In a bitter exchange, Mr Cameron pointed out that the Irish Prime Minister had said that 90 per cent of the defunct European Constitution - over which the Prime Minister had promised to let the people decide - had been resurrected in the agreement struck between EU leaders at the weekend.

In an angry response, however, Mr Blair told the Conservative leader that his claim of "some vast transfer from the UK to Brussels" was "completely and utterly absurd" and said he had not ceded ground on his own 'red lines'.

The party leaders locked horns as the Prime Minister made his penultimate appearance before he is replaced by Gordon Brown in two days' time.

Mr Blair told MPs that he had taken Britain from the margins of Europe into a "leadership position" without sacrificing his crucial red lines on control of foreign and security policy.

"Over the past ten years Britain has moved from the margins of European debate to the centre. This is absolutely right for Britain," he said. "Britain has for a decade been in a leadership position in Europe. That is exactly where we should stay."

However, Mr Cameron replied that Mr Blair had sanctioned the transfer of powers from Britain to Brussels "without the permission of the British people".

The Conservative leader said that the 'opt-out' clause which Downing Street claimed would prevent the UK from having to follow a common EU foreign policy was a non-binding annex, rather than a legally-enforceable protocol.

"This will be remembered as one of the most flagrant breaches of any of the promises you have made," Mr Cameron said, to loud Tory cheers.

"In his statement today, he did not even mention a referendum. It is the promise that dare not speak its name.

"From being dead, this constitution has been resuscitated. Is not the Irish Prime Minister telling the truth when he says that 90 per cent of the substance of the constitution is still there?

"His whole argument is bogus because, in the time of the constitution, he said the same red lines were met but he offered the people a referendum. The Prime Minister has broken this promise, but within two days he will be gone."

Mr Blair accused the Tory leader of "going through the motions". He said: "The Conservative Party has not got a serious policy on Europe. The fact that they have not got one means they are not a serious party of Government."

He added: "The idea that this involves some vast transfer from the UK to Brussels is completely and utterly absurd."

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