UK plans EU Constitution referendum in 2006

British Foreign Secretary Mr Jack Straw today revealed the likely date for the country's referendum on the European Union treaty…

British Foreign Secretary Mr Jack Straw today revealed the likely date for the country's referendum on the European Union treaty being signed in Rome today.

He declined to to confirm media reports that the vote would be in March 2006 but indicated it would be in the early part of that year.

"It is likely to be in early 2005 for the simple reason that in the autumn of 2006 we have the presidency of the European Union and it would be practically, almost impossible to combine both running the presidency with a referendum," Mr Straw said.

PA