LEGISLATION ratifying a new constitution for Europe could come before MPs during the present parliamentary session, a senior government adviser said last night.

Tony Blair will speak of his hopes that the constitution can be settled under the current Irish presidency of the European Union when he reports to the Commons today on the Brussels summit’s decision last Thursday and Friday to try to reach a deal.

Ministers say that he wants a constitutional document on the table so that he can shoot down the “myths” that are being raised about it.

But today the Prime Minister will face growing demands, some of them from Labour MPs, to grant a referendum. He is expected to maintain his stance that he will not sign up to a constitutional treaty that damages Britain’s national interest and that there will be nothing in it that should give rise to a referendum. However, some senior ministers believe it will be difficult for him to continue his opposition to a referendum.

The timing of legislation will be determined by how quickly Brussels can draft the treaty once it has been approved. But for advisers even to be talking of rushing it into the current session shows how far Mr Blair’s stance has changed.

Senior advisers said yesterday that Mr Blair was frustrated that he had been unable to counter “propaganda” against the constitution. They say that Mr Blair believes that the Conservatives and Eurosceptic newspapers have been “peddling myths” about the constitution representing a loss of British sovereignty.

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