A ROW broke out among Labour MPs over the wisdom of debating ratification of the European constitution in the run-up to the general election.

The European Union Bill announced yesterday would accept the constitutional treaty into British law, subject to a referendum expected in early 2006. It will include the precise question to be posed in the referendum but is unlikely to contain the date.

The Conservatives will not stand in the way of the Bill after winning a U-turn from Tony Blair over the vote.

But although Labour’s pro-Europeans welcomed the chance to debate the Bill next year, its Eurosceptics said that it would be a distraction before the election.

Ian Gibson, the Labour MP for Norwich North, said: “We expected this legislation to be in the Queen’s Speech but there is no need to introduce it before the election. We do not need this divisive debate now. Let’s avoid damaging splits and put winning the third term above the EU constitution.”

Ian Davidson, MP for Glasgow Pollok, added: “Labour MPs will want this issue off the agenda in the run-up to the elections. A Labour third term comes first. We will work to stop any attempts to impose unfair referendum rules and will vote against any such attempts as the Bill goes through.”

But Chris Bryant, chairman of the Labour Movement for Europe, said: “There are so many myths doing the rounds about the EU constitutional treaty that a comprehensive and early parliamentary debate is vital. The country deserves the right to look at these issues in depth.”

Michael Howard, the Tory leader, showed that his party would not shirk from debate on Europe, despite its own divisions, calling the lack of a referendum date a key omission.

The Tories sense that the constitution is not a vote-winner for Labour and are keen for the Bill to come forward before the election.

The treaty was signed by all 25 EU members in Rome on October 29 and is due to come into force in November 2006, provided it is ratified by all member states, at least nine of which will hold a referendum.

If the Conservatives were to win a May election, they have promised a referendum by October. They suspect that Mr Blair might be content for the constitution to fail in another EU nation before Britain votes.

Mr Howard said: “The Prime Minister promised to give leadership so why can’t he give a lead? Why are you waiting for the rest of Europe?”

Explore UK News

• Crime News

• Education News

• Health News

• Science News

• Scotland News

Times Recommends

• Tree stump 'shows image of Virgin Mary'
• BBC drops Strictly judge for younger model
• Trafalgar Square 'reduced to a spectacle'