French Referendum: 'Position of UK not settled': Calls for plebiscite

THE NARROW margin of victory in the French Maastricht referendum failed to settle Britain's position on the treaty, politicians agreed last night.

The Labour leader, John Smith, welcomed the result as a 'positive for the future of Europe' but said it would not solve the problem caused by Denmark's rejection of the treaty. It was John Major's responsibility, as president of the Council of Ministers, to lead fresh talks to find a solution.

The Liberal Democrat leader, Paddy Ashdown, called on Mr Major to show leadership to steer the Maastricht ratification Bill through the Commons. 'The focus will now switch to Britain. We will have to decide if we are going to be a part of the new Europe or separated from it.'

The Scottish National Party leader, Alex Salmond, said that although his party broadly supported the Maastricht treaty, the narrow victory for the 'yes' lobby underlined the need for a British referendum.

Opponents of the treaty said the narrow margin had given fresh impetus to their calls for a British vote on the issue. Tony Benn, Labour MP for Chesterfield, said the case for a British referendum was unanswerable. 'The main question is why should French voters decide the future of Britain? Why should speculators decide the future of our currency?'