That was until Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, made his Commons statement yesterday afternoon, in which he announced that the referendum would be "shelved".He knows it is dead, but cannot say so yet. More importantly, Mr Straw pointed out that there were parts of the almost-deceased treaty that were supported by all the main British political parties, most specifically the devolution of more powers to national parliaments. He suggested there were some elements to this treaty that were worth saving. This was not an especially contentious point, but he did not get a rational response.In an unusually crowded Commons there were accusations that the Government would seek to implement the treaty by the back door. Most of the time, pro-Europeans are pitched against Eurosceptics who regard their opposition to Europe as a political crusade As a result, pro-Europeans become similarly zealous.
A life-saving project demands that Jacques Chirac utters one of two sentences. Either he must declare: "France will have a second referendum" or: "The French government will by-pass the voters and ratify the treaty." It is inconceivable that he will adopt either course The treaty is dead. Once more Mr Blair escapes a referendum campaign.Out of the crisis, some of the most astute pro-Europeans in the British government seek causes for optimism. One upbeat proposition is that the crisis will have a surprisingly positive impact on British politics.
Tony Blair has got around this problem by navigating a convenient third way He pledges referendums and then does not actually hold them. Mr Blair has managed to do this over electoral reformfor the Commons, the euro - and now the EU constitution. Not that Mr Blair has a choice over the constitution. For cautious political leaders, the offer of a referendum on an explosive issue is almost irresistible. Such a dramatic pledge calms down political opponents and postpones awkward debates. The problems with referendums arise when leaders have to hold the treacherous polls. The police are dead right to be concerned about their failure to catch rapists. Those who continue to blame women for their behaviour are dead wrong.d.orr independent.co.uk More from Deborah Orr.
