Ministers' EU 'No' campaign ban

Ministers are to be banned from campaigning for a "no" vote in the referendum on the EU constitution, Tony Blair has revealed in a letter.

For ministers to campaign against a treaty the government supports would be "peculiar", the prime minister wrote.

"It is the government's stated policy that a treaty that reforms the EU to ensure it works more effectively with 10 or more new members is desirable."

Mr Blair was replying to a question from former Labour minister Tony Benn.

Whatever the issue, it always has to be his decision Tony Benn

Mr Benn had asked if ministers would be free to "speak and vote in accordance with their own convictions".

He said Mr Blair's decision to make the referendum a "party battle" was "absolutely wrong".

"He did this with the Iraq war and with foundation hospitals - but it is the opposite of the purpose of a referendum.

"It is the prime minister's absolute authoritarianism that stands out. Whatever the issue, it always has to be his decision."