Hague calls for Europe poll

William Hague wants referendums on constitutional change

Any future transfer of powers to Europe should be the subject of a referendum, according to Conservative leader William Hague.

Mr Hague will make the policy, initially launched on Thursday by Francis Maude, the subject of his keynote address to the Welsh Tory conference.

He will tell his audience, gathered in Llandudno, that the government should not be able to "give away any more of the rights and powers of the British people".

Mr Hague's speech will be a curtain-raiser to his party's Keep the Pound Action Day.

Bill amendment

The former Welsh secretary will also tell delegates the Tory leadership will back a cross-party amendment to the Political Parties and Referendums Bill.

If passed the amendment would force any major constitutional change to be voted on by the public.

Mr Hague will say: "This amendment will ensure that in future any bill or part of a bill that the Speaker [of the House of Commons] classifies as of first rate constitutional importance will be subject to a referendum."

The Tories are confident that their amendment to the bill has a fair chance of being passed by the Lords.

A Conservative source said Mr Hague's speech was arguing that the shadow foreign secretary Francis Maude's proposals made in Berlin on Thursday should become a permanent feature for all constitutional issues.

Keep the pound

Also launching the next instalment of his Keep the Pound campaign Mr Hague and Tory activists will be hoping to persuade voters to sign a "commitment card" to backing Tory policy against the single currency.

Mr Hague will also use his speech to launch a fresh attack on Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Seeking to make the most of what has been a difficult couple of days for the prime minister Mr Hague will accuse Mr Blair of being out of touch.

Mr Hague will say the Labour leader "has been seen for what he really is, the most out of touch, arrogant, opportunistic, remote prime minister we have ever had".