LONDON, May 31 (UPI) -- The British government is to ask French President Jacques Chirac whether a second referendum on the EU Constitution will be held.
Britain is among a group of EU member states planning to ask Chirac in private whether the treaty is alive or dead, and if France will be consulted again, the Guardian newspaper reported Tuesday.
A negative response will lead Britain, Poland and the Czech Republic to cancel their referendums.
French voters rejected the constitution by 55 to 45 percent Sunday.
Senior ministerial sources told the Independent newspaper Monday night there was no chance of a British referendum. Foreign Secretary Jack Straw will tell Parliament next Monday that agreement on economic reform in Europe must be reached before the EU can return to ratifying the treaty.
However British Prime Minister Tony Blair is also facing challenges on a domestic front as the French rejection has prompted renewed calls for Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown to take over as leader.
Blair was widely expected to go after a British referendum next year. However with prospects of a referendum fading, Brown's supporters are calling for him to step down sooner rather than later.
