BRITAIN is working with other European states to draw up plans to keep the European Union constitution alive if there is a narrow “non” vote in France next week.

The British government, which takes over the EU presidency on July 1, is discussing with European partners the prospect that the treaty could survive a defeat in the French referendum.

Downing Street sources said they would work to keep the constitution alive during Britain’s six-month presidency if Jacques Chirac, the French president, agreed that a narrow no vote — a “petit non” — was not fatal to the treaty.

A spokesman for the Luxembourg government, which currently holds the EU presidency, confirmed yesterday that its ministers were preparing a statement on pressing ahead with the constitution in the event of a narrow French defeat. “There have been talks about the possibility,” the spokesman said.

French government sources also confirmed that the EU might be able to salvage the constitution if only two or three of the 25 member states rejected the treaty. They expressed hope that a better economic outlook in the next 15 months — the deadline for countries to ratify the document — could pave the way for a yes vote in a second referendum.

There has been speculation that Tony Blair is secretly hoping for a no vote in France so that it will release him from his promise to hold a referendum. The opinion polls suggest that Blair would lose the vote, prompting a renewed bout of speculation about his future.

However, Blair has always argued that the constitution is essential to make the enlarged EU manageable and his advisers say the situation is more complex and that if a no vote in France led to a renegotiation of the treaty, it could be worse for Britain.

A senior member of Britain’s EU team said: “Tony will be in a crucial position over the future of Europe if there is a French ‘no’. If the French say it was close and we are going to see if we can ratify later, then there is a huge responsibility on us to make sure that happens.”

Gordon Brown will say this week that Britain’s aim during its presidency of the EU will be to argue that Europe must “pull its weight” by adopting the economic reforms Britain has pioneered.”

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