Brown may miss EU treaty signing

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Foreign Secretary David Miliband, or Europe Minister Jim Murphy, would sign on the UK's behalf if Mr Brown was not able to be present.

The Prime Minister's date in Lisbon next Thursday clashes with a session before the Commons Liaison Committee, where he is due to have at least an hour's grilling on topical subjects.

That meeting is scheduled to begin at 10am - the time Mr Brown would be due to join other heads of state and government arriving in the Portuguese capital.

The treaty-signing session in front of TV cameras in Lisbon is scheduled from 12 noon to 1pm, making it impossible for Mr Brown to arrive on time.

Mr Brown's spokesman pointed out there were many precedents for foreign ministers signing EU treaties on behalf of the UK, and insisted the premier was not trying to distance himself from the controversial measure which opponents say is tantamount to a new EU constitution.

Mr Brown's spokesman said: "The Prime Minister certainly hopes to go to Lisbon. We are trying to see if it's possible to combine the two.

"It is certainly his hope to be able to get there in time for the relevant signing."

And the spokesman insisted: "He does want to go."

But he added: "There are lots of precedents for heads of governments not signing these treaties."