EU treaty row to dominate Blair's final days in power

The row over a referendum on reform of the EU was reignited by Geoff Hoon, the minister for Europe, who conceded that a poll had not been ruled out.

Gordon Brown may soften his opposition to a poll, he signalled, as Tony Blair prepared for a difficult battle to secure Britain's aims at the EU summit in Brussels later this week

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Tough negotiations over a replacement for the failed EU constitution will dominate Mr Blair's final full week in office as he tries to prevent a deal on a new treaty crossing a string of British "red lines".

Mr Blair and the Chancellor are expected to hold talks with the French President, Nicholas Sarkozy, before the Luxembourg Summit amid warnings that Britain faces "nerve-wracking" negotiations.

Downing Street ruled out calls for a referendum on any deal, insisting on Friday that this week's talks would produce an "amending treaty" rather than a new version of the constitution which was rejected by voters in France and Holland.

But Mr Hoon signalled a possible U-turn, arguing it was still possible that Mr Brown might call a referendum on the deal when he takes over as Prime Minster next week.

"Clearly, a judgement has got to be made in terms of what is in the final package," he told BBC Radio 4. "It is important not to judge the outcome of the negotiations, but equally we are trying to negotiate an amending treaty - a treaty that is consistent with the treaties that have, in the past, changed the way the EU works."

Mr Hoon praised Mr Blair as a potential future permanent president of the EU, despite Downing Street's insistence that the PM did not want the job. Mr Hoon said: "It is clear there are few people with his experience of international and European negotiations, few people who would bring that experience to bear in what would be an important job. But it is some way off."

Margaret Beckett, the Foreign Secretary, acknowledged that some EU members still wanted to revive the constitutional treaty and warned that details of a deal were still far from clear.

"One of the things that is slightly nerve-wracking is that it is still far from clear what proposals the German presidency feels able to put," she told the BBC.

"It is also clear that there are really quite strong differences of view between member states. We do not want to see a constitutional treaty or a treaty that has the characteristics of a constitution.

"We will look at anything that will, if you like, tidy up the rule book of the European Union now that we are 27 and not 12 or 15."

George Osborne, the shadow Chancellor, repeated the Tory demand for a referendum. He told the BBC's Politics Show: "This is what we were promised by Tony Blair and Gordon Brown just a couple of years ago. It would be extraordinary if Gordon Brown's first act would be to rule out giving the British public a say in something as fundamental as the transfer of power to the EU."

Peter Mandelson, the European trade commissioner, said: "I don't think what is envisaged is anything like the elaborate and rather grandiose and rather extended original treaty. So I don't think there is a justification to hold a referendum."

Timetable to stepping down

* TODAY: Mr Blair faces final grilling by committee of MPs

* TOMORROW: Mr Blair and Gordon Brown expected to hold talks with the French President Nicolas Sarkozy

* WEDNESDAY 20 June: Mr Blair faces Prime Minister's questions

* THURSDAY 21 June: Mr Blair in Brussels for EU summit

* FRIDAY 22 June: End of two-day summit. Mr Blair might go to Rome to see Pope

* SUNDAY 24 June: Gordon Brown confirmed as Labour leader in Manchester

* MONDAY 25 June: Mr Blair's farewell speech to Labour MPs at Westminster

* TUESDAY 26 June: Prime Minister's last working day at No 10

* WEDNESDAY 27 June: Mr Blair faces David Cameron at PMQs for the final time before driving to Buckingham Palace to resign as PM.