THE BATTLE OVER THE CONSTITUTION REFERENDUM STARTS HERE

It is to Tony Blair's credit that he has done the most astonishing U Turn and agreed to have a referendum on the European Constitution. But let's not crow too quickly. He will no doubt try to put the referendum off until after the next election and then come up with a question which invites only one answer. Spin is not dead in Downing Street. It does make me wonder if an election might now be earlier rather than later. I'm keeping October free in my diary...