DAVID Cameron has at last acknowledged that the Tories are unlikely to be able to hold a promised referendum on the Lisbon Treaty before it becomes law.

Graham Dines

DAVID Cameron has at last acknowledged that the Tories are unlikely to be able to hold a promised referendum on the Lisbon Treaty before it becomes law.

He said the party would try to make good its promises, but has refused once again to set out what his response would be if - as now looks certain -the successor to the failed constitution is ratified by all 27 member states before a general election.

“What I said is that we would hold that referendum on the Lisbon Treaty but it seems we are getting close to a point when it is part of European law,” said Mr Cameron.

“I had always hoped that President Vaclav Klaus” (of the Czech Republic) “wouldn't sign but it seems that times are changing.”