BRITAIN is leading moves to shelve the European constitution until EU leaders agree a way forward after the emphatic “no” vote in France and the Netherlands.

Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, is expected to tell MPs on Monday that legislation paving the way for a British referendum will be suspended until there is “clarity” from EU leaders.

Officials in Brussels fear that suspending the ratification process is tantamount to killing it, and European leaders have demanded that the process continue despite the defeats.

But other countries facing tough referendum battles signalled that they may follow Britain’s lead, deepening the rifts within the Union.

At Downing Street next week Tony Blair will meet Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the Danish Prime Minister, who is said to be “sympathetic” to calls for a postponement.

Denmark is due to hold a referendum in September, but a poll last night showed that the “yes” camp’s eight-point lead has suddenly turned into a nine-point deficit.

Bertie Ahern, the Taoiseach, said that the Irish Government would continue to prepare for a referendum, but would be guided by the outcome of the emergency EU summit on June 16.

Giulio Tremonti, the Italian Deputy Prime Minister, said that he believed that the constitution was dead.

Even José Manuel Barroso, the European Commission President, is said to be privately sympathetic to the British position.

“You have to be realistic and recognise realities. A pause is very realistic. Barroso understands Blair’s position,” a Commission source told The Times.

But most member states continue to insist that the treaty be kept alive, and were drawing up their battle lines for June 16.

Gerhard Schröder, the German Chancellor, held an emergency meeting with Jean-Claude Juncker, the Prime Minister of Luxembourg and current EU president, yesterday, and will have another with President Chirac of France tomorrow.

“I will not give up working for this constitution, for a united Europe,” Herr Schröder said in Luxembourg. Mr Juncker said: “I remain . . . of the view the ratification process must be able to continue.”

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