Brown signals no retreat at EU constitution talks

Britain will fight to safeguard its "red lines" in the final negotiations on the new EU constitution - and go on to win a referendum on the document, Gordon Brown said yesterday. Visiting Brussels for a meeting of EU finance ministers, the chancellor insisted there had been no hardening of the government's position since Tony Blair's referendum u-turn. Foreign policy, social security and defence are the other areas where No 10 has pledged to stand firm as the EU rewrites and simplifies the rule-book for its 25 member states. "The referendum will come after the negotiations, and after the debate in the House of Commons," Mr Brown said. "If we secure a treaty that is acceptable for Britain, then I believe we can also put it successfully to the British people." But pressure is mounting, with just a month to close a deal before the Brussels summit on June 17. Talks collapsed in acrimony in December when the Italian presidency failed to broker a deal. Prospects improved when a new Spanish government took over, promising new flexibility. Bertie Ahern, the Irish prime minister and current president, is holding intensive talks to try to bridge the gaps. The key is a deal on voting weights in the council of ministers.