PM hints at referendum on Treaty

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The Prime Minister delivered a stark warning to fellow European leaders by indicating that he was ready to call a referendum if the final document did not protect the UK's "red lines".

But Mr Brown also insisted he was confident there would be no "ambush" waiting for him at the intergovernmental conference in Lisbon next month.

Speaking during his regular press conference in Downing Street, Mr Brown said: "I have already made it clear to Chancellor Merkel, who was chair of the discussions, to President Sarkozy and others that our red lines have got to be adhered to in the detail of the intergovernmental conference.

"If I were to come to the conclusion that we were not having the detail of what was decided reflected in the final outcome of the declaration then of course I would come back to the British people and say 'look we have to do things differently'."

He added: "If we were debating now the old constitutional treaty - which as the Brussels declaration says has been abandoned and certainly has been abandoned as far as Britain is concerned - then the argument for a referendum would be strong.

"But I have said before we started these negotiations in the last week in Brussels that if we secured our red lines then there would be no need for a referendum."

Asked if he was worried about being "ambushed" in Lisbon next month, Mr Brown replied: "No because I believe that from the discussions I have had with all the major leaders in Europe ... that they understand very fully the British position."