Blair 'like rabbit in headlights' on euro, says Patten

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Tony Blair suffered his second mauling from Brussels in two days when Chris Patten, one of Britain's two European commissioners, accused him yesterday of being caught "like a rabbit in the headlights" by the debate on the single currency.

A day after Romano Prodi, the European Commission president, attacked the Prime Minister for being afraid to let Britain play its full part in the EU, Mr Patten launched another broadside in a speech at Guildhall, London.

The former Conservative Party chairman, who is EU commissioner for foreign affairs, said Britain's "continuing equivocation" about its European destiny was "shameful". He accused Mr Blair of sitting on the fence over the single currency.

Mr Patten praised aspects of Mr Blair's European policy on security and defence but said that, like his predecessors, "he, too, has been caught like a rabbit in the headlights of the single currency issue. Will he? Won't he? And what about Gordon? [Brown]"

Of Mr Blair, he added: "With what he calls his 'pro-euro realism' he nails his colours firmly to the fence. What a wretched way to conduct debate on the greatest issue that will face Britain for years."

Mr Patten's allies insist the timing of his speech, after Mr Prodi's intervention, is purely coincidental. "It is not a concerted campaign between Mr Prodi and Mr Patten to rough up the Brits," one official said.

While the speech reflects belief in Brussels that Mr Blair's "heart is in the right place", it underlines the frustration over British prevarication on the euro. Mr Patten has long argued that, unless there is a referendum before the next general election, the Government risks looking like the Grand Old Duke of York.

Mr Patten said the Government has "found it hard going to turn the tide of tendentious national debate" and attacked the media's caricature of the EU. "Instead of engaging in the real issues, many Britons prefer to indulge in fantasy arguments. It is time to get real," he said.

Mr Patten's public reference to Mr Brown, who is seen as more sceptical about early membership of the euro than Mr Blair, is highly sensitive. The Prime Minister is believed to want to call a referendum next year but has yet to win over the Chancellor. There are signs Mr Blair wants to quicken the pace but is anxious not to be seen to be trying to "bounce" Mr Brown, who is determined that the Treasury will be the "guardian" of the Government's five economic tests.

Mr Blair has told Labour MPs he is more convinced than ever Britain should play a full part in the euro and there is speculation at Westminster that Mr Brown's assessment, due to be completed by June next year, may be brought forward to this year.

Mr Prodi's remarks irritated pro-euro British ministers, who regard his intervention as counter-productive. Although he was Mr Blair's preferred choice as Commission president, ministers have been unimpressed with his performance and intend to sideline him if a referendum is called.

Instead, they will seek to involve a younger generation of politicians from the Continent, regarded as more voter-friendly.

However, Mr Patten's criticism will be taken more seriously – he is regarded by supporters of the single currency as a powerful advocate who could play a part in a referendum campaign.

With Iain Duncan Smith certain to urge people to vote "no", Mr Patten would be seen by the "yes" camp as an ally to undermine the Tories by highlighting the party's divisions on Europe.

On Monday, Mr Prodi contrasted Britain's relationship with America, with its reluctance to engage with Europe, adding it was "a matter of deciding where one's future lies".

Downing Street reacted sharply at the time – observers will be waiting to see how it reacts to Mr Patten's attack.