Labour 'reneged on EU referendum'

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Nearly two-thirds think the Government has "gone back on its initial promise" to give them a say on the EU Constitution, even though it has been replaced by the Lisbon Treaty.

The findings come ahead of a High Court battle next week between the Government and eurosceptic millionaire Stuart Wheeler, who is seeking a judicial review to force a plebiscite.

Ministers insist the Treaty is substantially different to the constitution, which was formally ditched in 2005 after voters in France and Holland rejected it.

But critics, including spread-betting tycoon Mr Wheeler who commissioned the poll, argue the treaty is the same in all but name to the constitution.

The YouGov survey found that 65% of voters agreed that the Government had gone back on Labour's 2005 general election commitment to hold a referendum. Just 12% disagreed.

Some 51% said that - regardless of Labour's commitments - there should be a referendum. Only 13% said there should not.

Mr Wheeler wants the High Court to declare as unlawful the Government's refusal to hold a referendum on the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty, approved by MPs earlier this year.

Mr Wheeler said: "This poll underlines the fact that the vast majority of the British public believe the Government has broken its promise to hold a referendum.

"It doesn't matter whether you believe the UK should adopt the proposed treaty or not. What matters is the Government stands by its repeated promises and gives the people of Britain the chance to have their say."