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6/6/05

Times online: Straw to put EU constitution on ice

Times OnlineStraw to put EU constitution on ice

Britain will defy French and German demands to press ahead with the ratification of the European Union constitution when Jack Straw announces this afternoon that the UK's referendum on the charter is to be put on ice.Foreign Office sources say that Mr Straw will not formally withdraw the Bill and will do his best to appear not to be killing it off entirely - although Tory eurosceptics will not see it that way. Britain takes over the rotating presidency of the EU on July 1. France and Germany are also expected to step up the pressure on Britain to be a "good European" by insisting that it surrender its budget rebate at a fin ance ministers’ meeting in Luxembourg tomorrow.

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