Britain set to "place on hold" referendum vote on EU constitution

The London Times is reporting that Foreign Secretary Jack Straw will announce Monday that the referendum to vote on the EU constitution will be placed on hold.

It is important, nonetheless, that he makes it plain that the vote has not merely been suspended until the next meeting of EU leaders on June 16 and 17. It should be the unequivocal position of the Government that rigor mortis has set in and that the constitutional corpse cannot be revived by a French kiss of life. Mr Straw should concede that the EU will need to proceed in a very different manner from now on.