Heseltine accuses Blair of 'losing control'

Michael Heseltine delivered a savage rebuke to Tony Blair's EU referendum U-turn, branding it "appalling and irresponsible", and saying the premier was "losing control".

In a withering snub, the ardently pro-European former Tory deputy prime minister refused to share a platform with a prime minister he now regarded as weak and untrustworthy.

"I was certainly prepared to fight alongside him when we were contemplating a referendum on the euro," he said.

"I am not sure that any longer I feel I can sit on the same platform with members of a government who seem so indecisive and incapable of maintaining a position."

Lord Heseltine said Mr Blair had "capitulated" to the Eurosceptic media, implying the national vote was a favour to secure the support of tycoon Rupert Murdoch.

He predicted the referendum would be a fiasco, driven by scare stories and black propaganda.

"It is a quite appalling and irresponsible decision that the Prime Minister has taken," he said in an interview with BBC Newsnight.

"He is losing control. He is virtually floundering in Iraq and now he has capitulated on an EU referendum."

His intervention is a fresh bodyblow to Mr Blair who was being bitterly criticised today by fellow European leaders and some Labour MPs.

Lord Heseltine and ex-Chancellor-Kenneth Clarke were among a handful of leading pro-EU Conservatives who broke party ranks by sitting alongside Mr Blair when he said he wanted to join the single currency.

It now looks as though the Prime Minister will be on his own. EU Commissioner Neil Kinnock also made clear he opposed the referendum, warning that a No vote could "destabilise" Britain's place in Europe.

He said the decision was clearly forced by "political circumstances"-Mr Blair faces another rough ride in the Commons at question-time today when he is set to be challenged to explain what a No result would mean. He was under pressure to clear up confusion after Downing Street raised the stakes by warning of "profound implications" for the UK's relationship with the rest of the EU.

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw was sent on a tour of TV studios to calm down the dire warnings and insist that defeat would not mean Mr Blair being forced to resign.

"In referenda which have been held in other countries, when the referendum decision has gone against the head of state or government, it's not led to resignations. Why should it?" he said.

The general view among ministers was that Mr Blair had begin a massive gamble which could backfire badly.

The referendum will be held late next year or in the spring of 2006 under a timetable designed to prevent it dominating the next general election.