EU CONSTITUTION: UK TO ASK VOTERS STRAIGHT QUESTION IN REFERENDUM.

A UK Government spokesman would not confirm the wording of the referendum question, saying that the precise phrase would only be made known when the Bill paving the way for the referendum was published later this year. But the spokesman said that the question would be "simple and straightforward" and would "silence conspiracy theorists" who claimed that the wording would be slanted in favour of a Yes vote.

There had been speculation that the question might have including references to the implications for the UK of voting No to the Constitution to encourage voters to consider whether they wanted the UK to leave the EU in the event of a No vote.

The UK is expected to hold its referendum in Spring 2005. Recent opinion polls suggest that UK Prime Minister Tony Blair faces an uphill struggle in winning the referendum. At least ten EU Member States are due to hold referendums on the Constitution, starting with Spain next in February. The UK will probably be one of the last countries to put the Constitution to the voters. All 25 EU Member States have to ratify the new Treaty before it can come into force, either by parliamentary approval or referendum.

MEPs call for simultaneous vote in France and Germany.

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder seems to have ruled out his country...